THE CRAB NEBULAS COSMIC-RAY ACCELERATION ZONE REVEALED

We analyze and discuss the geometrical and physical properties of the geometrically coherent, and the time-variable radio spectral index per turbations near the center of the Crab Nebula recently discovered by B ietenholz & Kronberg. Although the detailed explanation of the three-d imensional geometry of the alpha perturbations is not yet clear, we pr opose that they are the sites of electron acceleration by MHD waves. T he MHD waves are also the cause of the isotropization of the plasma fl ow outside the inner ''emission hole'' at the Crab's center. and we sh ow how the MHD turbulence near the shock produces the observed spectra l index, alpha approximately 0 in the alpha-ridges, and a somewhat ste eper spectrum further out in the supernova remnant, as is also observe d. We also suggest a physical explanation for the ''persistent'' magne tic field cell structure, and the typical 10'' cell size as determined from the projected magnetic field maps of Bietenholz & Kronberg.