Pulsar Nebulae

Abstract
Recent observation with ASCA reveals that radio pulsars own X-ray diffuse nebulae around them. 11 such nebulae have been reported (Harrus, Hughes & Helfand 1996, Shibata et al. 1997, Kawai, Tamura & Shibata 1997). It is most likely that these nebulae are synchrotron nebuale powered by the pulsar wind, the outflow of relativistic particles. Kawai, Tamura and Shibata (1997) reduced an empirical law for the nebula luminosity Lx as a function of the rotation power Ėrot of the central pulsar: Lx/Ėrot = −12.3 + 0.27 log Ėrot.