Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856

M. Ackermann; M. Ajello; J. Ballet; G. Barbiellini; D. Bastieri; A. Belfiore; R. Bellazzini; M. D. Filipović; J. L. Payne; [and one hundred and forty-six others]

doi:10.1126/science.1213974

Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856

M. Ackermann
, M. Ajello
, J. Ballet
, G. Barbiellini
, D. Bastieri
, A. Belfiore
, R. Bellazzini
, M. D. Filipović
, J. L. Payne
, [and one hundred and forty-six others]

School of Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

100 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Gamma-ray binaries are stellar systems containing a neutron star or black hole, with gamma-ray emission produced by an interaction between the components. These systems are rare, even though binary evolution models predict dozens in our Galaxy. A search for gamma-ray binaries with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) shows that 1FGL J1018.6-5856 exhibits intensity and spectral modulation with a 16.6-day period. We identified a variable x-ray counterpart, which shows a sharp maximum coinciding with maximum gamma-ray emission, as well as an O6V((f)) star optical counterpart and a radio counterpart that is also apparently modulated on the orbital period. 1FGL J1018.6-5856 is thus a gamma-ray binary, and its detection suggests the presence of other fainter binaries in the Galaxy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	189-193
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	335
Issue number	6065
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1213974
Publication status	Published - 2012

Keywords

gamma rays
gamma-ray binaries
numerical analysis
photons
telescope

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10.1126/science.1213974

Cite this

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title = "Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856",

abstract = "Gamma-ray binaries are stellar systems containing a neutron star or black hole, with gamma-ray emission produced by an interaction between the components. These systems are rare, even though binary evolution models predict dozens in our Galaxy. A search for gamma-ray binaries with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) shows that 1FGL J1018.6-5856 exhibits intensity and spectral modulation with a 16.6-day period. We identified a variable x-ray counterpart, which shows a sharp maximum coinciding with maximum gamma-ray emission, as well as an O6V((f)) star optical counterpart and a radio counterpart that is also apparently modulated on the orbital period. 1FGL J1018.6-5856 is thus a gamma-ray binary, and its detection suggests the presence of other fainter binaries in the Galaxy.",

keywords = "gamma rays, gamma-ray binaries, numerical analysis, photons, telescope",

author = "M. Ackermann and M. Ajello and J. Ballet and G. Barbiellini and D. Bastieri and A. Belfiore and R. Bellazzini and Filipovi{\'c}, \{M. D.\} and Payne, \{J. L.\} and \{[and one hundred and forty-six others]\}",

year = "2012",

doi = "10.1126/science.1213974",

language = "English",

volume = "335",

pages = "189--193",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6065",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856

AU - Ackermann, M.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Ballet, J.

AU - Barbiellini, G.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Belfiore, A.

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Filipović, M. D.

AU - Payne, J. L.

AU - [and one hundred and forty-six others], null

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Gamma-ray binaries are stellar systems containing a neutron star or black hole, with gamma-ray emission produced by an interaction between the components. These systems are rare, even though binary evolution models predict dozens in our Galaxy. A search for gamma-ray binaries with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) shows that 1FGL J1018.6-5856 exhibits intensity and spectral modulation with a 16.6-day period. We identified a variable x-ray counterpart, which shows a sharp maximum coinciding with maximum gamma-ray emission, as well as an O6V((f)) star optical counterpart and a radio counterpart that is also apparently modulated on the orbital period. 1FGL J1018.6-5856 is thus a gamma-ray binary, and its detection suggests the presence of other fainter binaries in the Galaxy.

AB - Gamma-ray binaries are stellar systems containing a neutron star or black hole, with gamma-ray emission produced by an interaction between the components. These systems are rare, even though binary evolution models predict dozens in our Galaxy. A search for gamma-ray binaries with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) shows that 1FGL J1018.6-5856 exhibits intensity and spectral modulation with a 16.6-day period. We identified a variable x-ray counterpart, which shows a sharp maximum coinciding with maximum gamma-ray emission, as well as an O6V((f)) star optical counterpart and a radio counterpart that is also apparently modulated on the orbital period. 1FGL J1018.6-5856 is thus a gamma-ray binary, and its detection suggests the presence of other fainter binaries in the Galaxy.

KW - gamma rays

KW - gamma-ray binaries

KW - numerical analysis

KW - photons

KW - telescope

UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/517026

U2 - 10.1126/science.1213974

DO - 10.1126/science.1213974

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 335

SP - 189

EP - 193

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6065

ER -

Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856

Abstract

Keywords

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