Detection of new optical counterpart candidates to psr b1951+32 with hst/wfpc2

Abstract

There remain several definitive gamma-ray pulsars that are as yet undetected in the optical regime. A classic case is the pulsar PSR B1951+32, associated with the complex CTB 80 SNR. Previous ground based high speed 2-d optical studies have ruled out candidates to m(V) similar to24. Hester (2000a) has reported an analysis of archival HST/WFPC2 observations of the CTB 80 complex which suggest a compact synchrotron nebula coincident with the pulsar's radio position. Performing a similar analysis, we have identified a possible optical counterpart within this synchrotron nebula at m(V) similar to 25.5-26, and another optical counterpart candidate nearby at m(V) similar to 24.5. We assess the reality of these counterpart candidates in the context of existing models of pulsar emission.