Modeling the Radial Distribution of Chemical Compositions in Crab Nebula Filaments

Abstract

The chemical compositions within the filaments of the Crab Nebula were determined using a 3-stage optimized photoionization modeling method of the nebular gas, employing diagnostic ratios between emission line intensities. The radial distribution of chemical compositions within the Crab Nebula filaments was analyzed using observed data obtained from seven distinct aperture positions on the Crab Nebula filaments. Our results do not confirm an increase of the relative abundance of chemical elements in the outward direction obtained previously by diagnostic method.