Pulsar wind nebulae with H.E.S.S. [Elektronische Ressource] : establishing a connection between high-power pulsars and very-high-energy gamma-ray sources / presented by Svenja Carrigan

Dissertationsubmitted to theCombined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and forMathematicsof the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germanyfor the degree ofDoctor of Natural Sciencespresented byDipl.-Phys. Svenja Carriganborn in Dortmund, GermanyOral examination: 25 July 2007Pulsar Wind Nebulae withH.E.S.S.:Establishing a Connection betweenhigh-power Pulsars and very-high-energygamma-ray SourcesReferees: Prof. Dr. Werner HofmannProf. Dr. Thomas LohseAbstractPulsars energise particles into lighthouse pencil beams and create extendedrelativisticoutflows,pulsarwindnebulae(PWNe). Inthevery-high-energy(VHE)gamma-ray wave band, these PWNe represent to date the most populous class ofGalactic sources. Nevertheless, the details of the energy conversion mechanismsin the vicinity of pulsars are not well understood, nor is it known which pulsarsare able to drive PWNe and emit high-energy radiation. Due to its large field ofview and unprecedented sensitivity, H.E.S.S. is the first instrument to allow fordeep surveys of the Galactic plane in VHE gamma rays. This work presents thefirst ever systematic investigation of the connection of VHE gamma-ray sourcesandPWNe.