Pulsar wind nebula

A pulsar wind nebula (PWN, plural PWNe), sometimes called a plerion (derived from the Greek "πλήρης", pleres, meaning "full"),[1] is a type of nebula sometimes found inside the shell of a supernova remnant (SNR), powered by winds generated by a central pulsar.

These nebulae were proposed as a class in 1976 as enhancements at radio wavelengths inside supernova remnants.

[1] They have since been found to be infrared, optical, millimetre, X-ray[2] and gamma ray sources.

[7] As the pulsar wind nebula ages, the supernova remnant dissipates and disappears.

[8] Pulsar winds are composed of charged particles (plasma) accelerated to relativistic speeds by the rapidly rotating, hugely powerful magnetic fields above 1 teragauss (100 million teslas) that are generated by the spinning pulsar.

The Vela Pulsar (centre) and its surrounding pulsar wind nebula
The inner Crab Nebula . Central part shows the pulsar wind nebula, with the red star in the centre being the Crab Pulsar . Image combines optical data from Hubble (in red) and X-ray data from Chandra (in blue).