Evidence for a Pulsar Jet Producing a Hot Nebula in the Supernova Remnant MSH 15—52

We have discovered direct evidence for a pulsar jet from the young X-ray and radio pulsar PSR 1509–58 in the supernova remnant MSH 15–52 with the X-ray astronomy satellite ASCA. With its high-energy resolution combined with its imaging capability over a wide energy band, ASCA has studied the two morphologically and spectroscopically different components in this supernova remnant: a non-thermal nebula powered by the pulsar with a jet-like structure, and a hot thermal plasma cloud located at the end of the “jet”. We propose that the jet is a stream of relativistic electrons generated by the pulsar, and that the thermal nebula is created by the collision of the jet with interstellar matter. This scenario can explain the peculiar X-ray morphology and the energy budget of MSH 15–52 consistently.