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Title: TeV gamma rays from Galactic Center pulsars

Journal Article · · Physics of the Dark Universe
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3]
  1. Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States). Fermilab Center for Particle Astrophysics; Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States). Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics
  2. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
  3. The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States). Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics (CCAPP)

Measurements of the nearby pulsars Geminga and B0656+14 by the HAWC and Milagro telescopes have revealed the presence of bright TeV-emitting halos surrounding these objects. If young and middle-aged pulsars near the Galactic Center transfer a similar fraction of their energy into TeV photons, then these sources could plausibly dominate the emission that is observed by HESS and other ground-based telescopes from the innermost $$\sim$$$$10^2$ parsecs of the Milky Way. In particular, both the spectral shape and the angular extent of this emission is consistent with TeV halos produced by a population of pulsars, although the reported correlation of this emission with the distribution of molecular gas suggests that diffuse hadronic processes also must contribute. The overall flux of this emission requires a birth rate of ~100-1000 neutron stars per Myr near the Galactic Center, in good agreement with recent estimates.

Research Organization:
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP); National Science Foundation (NSF); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11359; FG02-13ER41958; NNX15AB18G; PHY-1404311; SC0009924
OSTI ID:
1367901
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1567978
Report Number(s):
FERMILAB-PUB-17-173-A; arXiv:1705.09293; 1601359
Journal Information:
Physics of the Dark Universe, Vol. 21, Issue C; ISSN 2212-6864
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 13 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Figures / Tables (2)


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