The optical polarization of the Crab Pulsar

Abstract

The optical polarizations of the Crab Nebula Pulsar has been remeasured, using a new determination of the polarization of the background emission from the nebula. The emission from the pulsar at minimum light is 47±10 per cent polarized at p.a. 130°. The polarization characteristics of the two pulse components are remarkably similar. The observations support a model in which optical and other high-energy radiation is emitted from close to the light cylinder, the two pulses corresponding to the two magnetic poles in a nearly orthogonal rotator.