The Cherenkov Telescope Array Will Test Whether Pulsars Generate the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2022 · TBD

OSTI ID:1908205

Keith, Celeste ^[1]; Hooper, Dan ^[2]; Linden, Tim ^[3]

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1. Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.
2. Chicago U., KICP; Chicago U., Astron. Astrophys. Ctr.; Fermilab
3. Stockholm U., OKC

The GeV-scale gamma-ray excess observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center has been interpreted as either the products of annihilating dark matter particles, or as the emission from a large population of faint and centrally-located millisecond pulsars. If pulsars are responsible for this signal, they should also produce detectable levels of TeV-scale emission. In this study, we employ a template-based analysis of simulated data in an effort to assess the ability of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) to detect or constrain the presence of this emission, providing a new and powerful means of testing whether millisecond pulsars are responsible for the observed excess. We find that after even a relatively brief observation of the Inner Galaxy, CTA will be able to definitively detect this TeV-scale emission, or rule out pulsars as the source of the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess.

• Research Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP) (SC-25)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359
• OSTI ID: 1908205
• Report Number(s): FERMILAB-PUB-22-923-T; arXiv:2212.08080; oai:inspirehep.net:2615435
• Journal Information: TBD, Journal Name: TBD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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