Broadband X-Ray Spectroscopy of the Pulsar Wind Nebula in HESS J1640-465

Abstract

We present updated measurements of the X-ray properties of the pulsar wind nebula associated with the TeV γ -ray source HESS J1640-465 derived from Chandra and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array data. We report a high N _H value along the line of sight, consistent with previous work, which led us to incorporate the effects of dust scattering in our spectral analysis. Due to uncertainties in the dust scattering, we report a range of values for the PWN properties (photon index and unabsorbed flux). In addition, we fit the broadband spectrum of this source and found evidence for spectral softening and decreasing unasborbed flux as we go to higher photon energies. We then used a one-zone time-dependent evolutionary model to reproduce the dynamical and multiwavelength spectral properties of our source. Our model suggests a short spin-down timescale, a relatively higher than average magnetized pulsar wind, a strong pulsar wind nebula magnetic field and maximum electron energy up to PeV, suggesting HESS J1640-465 could be a PeVatron candidate.

Keywords

• Millisecond pulsars
• Pulsars
• Rotation powered pulsars
• Neutron stars
• Pulsar wind nebulae
• Supernova remnants