2002A&A...395..845B

There remain several definitive γ-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∼24. Hester (2000, in Spin and Magnetism in Young Neutron Stars, conference, Institute for Theoretical Physics, UC Santa Barbara) 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∼25.5-26, and another optical counterpart candidate nearby at m_V∼24.5. We assess the reality of these counterpart candidates in the context of existing models of pulsar emission.