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Ascertain whether a mid-infrared spectral break exists in the Crab’s synchrotron spectrum within JWST wavelengths

Ascertain whether the global synchrotron spectrum of the Crab Nebula exhibits a spectral break within the JWST mid-infrared range (specifically across 5.6–11.3 μm), by acquiring measurements with sufficient calibration precision to distinguish a curved spectrum from a single power law.

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Background

The broadband synchrotron spectrum of the Crab Nebula is known to have a break between the radio and optical bands, likely in the infrared. JWST images at 4.8, 5.6, and 11.3 μm were used to test for such a break in a region dominated by synchrotron emission.

Although a power law fits the JWST points, current photometric calibration uncertainties prevent a definitive test for a spectral break in this wavelength range.

References

All points are well-fitted by a power law model with a spectral index of 0.47 ± 0.10, indicating that we cannot confirm a spectral break in the JWST wavelength range with the present calibration uncertainty values.

— Dissecting the Crab Nebula with JWST: Pulsar wind, dusty filaments, and Ni/Fe abundance constraints on the explosion mechanism (2406.00172 - Temim et al., 31 May 2024) in Section 6.2 (Spectral Index Variations)