A Dynamical Model for the Evolution of a Pulsar Wind Nebula inside a Non-Radiative Supernova Remnant

Abstract

A pulsar wind nebula inside a supernova remnant provides a unique insight into the properties of the central neutron star, the relativistic wind powered by its loss of rotational energy, its progenitor supernova, and the surrounding environment. In this paper, we present a new semi-analytic model for the evolution of such a pulsar wind nebula. This model couples the dynamical and radiative evolution of the pulsar wind nebulae, traces the evolution of the pulsar wind nebulae throughout the lifetime of the supernova remnant produced by the progenitor explosion, and predicts both the dynamical (e.g. radius and expansion velocity) and radiative (radio to TeV γ-ray spectrum) properties of the pulsar wind nebula during this period. As a result, it is uniquely qualified for using the observed properties of a pulsar wind nebula in order to constrain the physical characteristics of the neutron star, pulsar wind, progenitor supernova, and surrounding interstellar medium. We also discuss the expected evolution for a particular set of these parameters, and show that it reproduced the large spectral break observed in radio and X-ray observations of many young pulsar wind nebulae, and