Fermi Data Research Articles

Revival of the Dark Matter Hypothesis for the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess.

Statistical evidence has previously suggested that the galactic center GeV excess (GCE) originates largely from point sources, and not from annihilating dark matter. We examine the impact of unmodeled source populations on identifying the true origin of the GCE using non-Poissonian template fitting (NPTF) methods. In a proof-of-principle example with simulated data, we discover that unmodeled sources in the Fermi bubbles can lead to a dark matter signal being misattributed to point sources by the NPTF. We discover striking behavior consistent with a mismodeling effect in the real Fermi data, finding that large artificial injected dark matter signals are completely misattributed to point sources. Consequently, we conclude that dark matter may provide a dominant contribution to the GCE after all.

Eight Millisecond Pulsars Discovered in the Arecibo PALFA Survey

Abstract We report on eight millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in binary systems discovered with the Arecibo L-Band Feed Array (PALFA) pulsar survey. Phase-coherent timing solutions derived from 2.5–5 yr of observations carried out at the Arecibo and Jodrell Bank observatories are provided. PSR J1921+1929 is a 2.65 ms pulsar in a 39.6 day orbit for which we detect γ-ray pulsations in archival Fermi data. PSR J1928+1245 is a very low-mass-function system with an orbital period of 3.3 hr that belongs to the non-eclipsing black widow population. We also present PSR J1932+1756, the longest-orbital-period (41.5 days) intermediate-mass binary pulsar known to date. In light of the numerous discoveries of binary MSPs over the past years, we characterize the Galactic distribution of known MSP binaries in terms of binary class. Our results support and strengthen previous claims that the scatter in the Galactic scale height distribution correlates inversely with the binary mass function. We provide evidence of observational biases against detecting the most recycled pulsars near the Galactic plane, which overestimates the scale height of lighter systems. A possible bimodality in the mass function of MSPs with massive white dwarfs is also reported.

Decaying dark matter at IceCube and its signature on High Energy gamma experiments

The origin of neutrino flux observed in IceCube is still mainly unknown. Typically two flux components are assumed, namely: atmospheric neutrinos and an unknown astrophysical term. In principle the latter could also contain a top-down contribution coming for example from decaying dark matter. In this case one should also expect prompt and secondary gamma's as well. This leads to the possibility of a multimessenger analysis based on the simultaneous comparison of the Dark Matter hypothesis both with neutrino and high energy gamma rays data. In this paper, we analyze, for different decaying Dark Matter channels, the 7.5 years IceCube HESE data, and compare the results with previous exclusion limits coming from Fermi data. Finally, we test whether the Dark Matter hypothesis could be further scrutinised by using forthcoming high energy gamma rays experiments.

The γ-ray sky seen at X-ray energies

Context. BL Lac objects are an extreme type of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that belong to the largest population of γ-ray sources: blazars. This class of AGNs shows a double-bumped spectral energy distribution that is commonly described in terms of a synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission process, whereas the low-energy component that dominates their emission between the infrared and the X-ray band is tightly connected to the high-energy component that peaks in the γ-rays. Two strong connections that link radio and mid-infrared emission of blazars to the emission in the γ-ray band are well established. They constitute the basis for associating γ-ray sources with their low-energy counterparts. Aims. We searched for a possible link between X-ray and γ-ray emissions for the subclass of BL Lacs using all archival Swift/XRT observations combined with Fermi data for a selected sample of 351 sources. Methods. Analyzing ∼2400 ks of Swift/XRT observations that were carried out until December 2018, we discovered that above the γ-ray flux threshold Fγ ≈ 3 × 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1, 96% of all Fermi BL Lacs have an X-ray counterpart that is detected with signal-to-noise ratio > 3. Results. We did not find any correlation or clear trend between X-ray and γ-ray fluxes and/or spectral shapes, but we discovered a correlation between the X-ray flux and the mid-infrared color. Finally, we discuss on a possible interpretation of our results in the SSC framework.

XMM-Newton and Fermi/LAT view on the supernova remnant 3C434.1

We report on XMM-Newton observations of the supernova remnant (SNR) 3C434.1 (G94.0+1.0), the first in X-rays since the ROSAT era. Our analysis confirms the thermal origin of the observed extended X-ray emission, whose morphology appears more complex than previously reported. In particular, part of the shell shows a significantly harder spectrum which is consistent with a power law, and it is, therefore, likely of non-thermal origin. Motivated by these finding, we revisited the GeV observations of the field taken with the Fermi observatory. A significant excess associated with the remnant was detected, which is likely associated with non-thermal X-ray emission from part of the shell. The analysis of the Fermi data resulted in the serendipity discovery of GeV emission from the nearby SNR G093.7-00.2. Finally, we searched for a possible compact remnants within the shell, however, no obvious candidates could be identified due to the fairly large positional uncertainties.

Probing the Pulsar Population of Terzan 5 via Spectral Modeling

Abstract Terzan 5 is the only Galactic globular cluster that has plausibly been detected at very high energies by the High Energy Stereoscopic System. It has an unexpectedly asymmetric very high energy morphology that is offset from the cluster center, in addition to a large-scale, offset radio structure and compact diffuse X-ray emission associated with this cluster. We present new data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope on this source. We model the updated broadband spectral energy distribution, attributing this to cumulative pulsed emission from a population of embedded millisecond pulsars, as well as unpulsed emission from the interaction of their leptonic winds with the ambient magnetic and soft-photon fields. In particular, our model invokes unpulsed synchrotron and inverse Compton components to model the radio and TeV data and cumulative pulsed curvature radiation to fit the Fermi data, and it explains the hard Chandra X-ray spectrum via a “new” cumulative synchrotron component from electron–positron pairs within the pulsar magnetospheres that has not been implemented before. We find reasonable spectral fits for plausible model parameters. We also derive constraints on the millisecond pulsar luminosity function using the diffuse X-ray data and the Chandra sensitivity. Future higher-quality spectral and spatial data will help discriminate between competing scenarios (such as dark matter annihilation, white dwarf winds, or hadronic interactions) proposed for the broadband emission, as well as constraining degenerate model parameters.

Search for Gamma-Ray Emission from the Sun during Solar Minimum with the ARGO-YBJ Experiment

Abstract The hadronic interaction of cosmic rays with solar atmosphere can produce high energy gamma-rays. The gamma-ray luminosity is correlated both with the flux of primary cosmic rays and the intensity of the solar magnetic field. The gamma-rays below 200 GeV have been observed by Fermi without any evident energy cutoff. The bright gamma-ray flux above 100 GeV has been detected only during solar minimum. The only available data in the TeV range come from the HAWC observations, however, outside the solar minimum. The ARGO-YBJ data set has been used to search for sub-TeV/TeV gamma-rays from the Sun during the solar minimum from 2008 to 2010, the same time period covered by the Fermi data. A suitable model containing the Sun shadow, solar disk emission, and inverse-Compton emission has been developed, and the chi-square minimization method was used to quantitatively estimate the disk gamma-ray signal. The result shows that no significant gamma-ray signal is detected and upper limits to the gamma-ray flux at 0.3–7 TeV are set at the 95% confidence level. In the low energy range these limits are consistent with the extrapolation of the Fermi-LAT measurements taken during solar minimum and are compatible with a softening of the gamma-ray spectrum below 1 TeV. They also provide an experimental upper bound to any solar disk emission at TeV energies. Models of dark matter annihilation via long-lived mediators predicting gamma-ray fluxes >10−7 GeV cm−2 s−1 below 1 TeV are ruled out by the ARGO-YBJ limits.

Fermi Observation of the Jets of the Microquasar SS 433

Abstract We report our analysis of the data obtained with the Large Area Telescope onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) for the SS 433/W50 region. The total data length is ten years. Different from the previous results reported for this region (for which an old version of database was used), we show that excess emission is detected around the w1 region in the western lobe of the jets from SS 433. The region is bright at X-rays due to the interaction between the jet and the ambient medium. This detection also matches well the recent results of the very-high-energy detection of SS 433/W50 with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC). However, the eastern regions that are slightly brighter in HAWC’s observation are not detected in the Fermi data. Constructing the broadband spectral energy distribution for the western region, we compare with the HAWC results for the eastern regions and discuss the possible origin of the emission. A leptonic scenario can provide a fit to the Fermi GeV spectrum and HAWC TeV detection, where the former and latter are due to the synchrotron radiation and inverse-Compton process respectively. However, the model cannot explain the X-ray and radio emission from the region simultaneously, which thus requires further observational and theoretical studies of the region in order to clarify the reasons.

Comparative study of gamma-ray emission from molecular clouds and star-forming galaxies

Star-forming regions on different scales, such as giant molecular clouds in our Galaxy and star-forming galaxies, emit GeV gamma-rays. These are thought to originate from hadronic interactions of cosmic-ray (CR) nuclei with the interstellar medium. It has recently been shown that the gamma-ray luminosity (Lγ) of star-forming galaxies is well correlated with their star formation rates (SFR). We investigated Fermi data of eight Galactic molecular clouds in the Gould belt and found that molecular clouds do not follow the Lγ −SFR correlation of star-forming galaxies. We also compared the scaling relations of gamma-ray luminosity, SFR, and the gas mass for molecular clouds and star-forming galaxies. Using a multiple-variable regression analysis, we found different dependences of gamma-ray emission on SFR or mass for molecular clouds and star-forming galaxies. This suggests that different mechanisms may govern the production of gamma-rays in these two types of sources. Specifically, the strong dependence on mass supports that gamma-ray emission of molecular clouds primarily comes from passive interaction by diffuse Galactic CRs, whereas the strong dependence on SFR supports that gamma-ray emission of star-forming galaxies originates from CRs that are accelerated by local active sources.

Investigation of the High-energy Emission from the Magnetar-like Pulsar PSR J1119–6127 after the 2016 Outburst

PSR J1119-6127 is a radio pulsar that behaved magnetar like bursts, and we performed a comprehensive investigation of this pulsar using the archival high-energy observations obtained after its outburst in 2016 July. After the 2016 outburst, specific regions on the neutron star surface were heated up to > 0.3 and > 1 keV from about 0.2 keV. A hard non-thermal spectral component with a photon index < 0.5 related to the magnetospheric emission can be resolved from the NuSTAR spectra above 10 keV. We find that the thermal emitting regions did not cool down and gradually shrank by about (20-35)% four months after the outburst. Hard X-ray pulsations were detected with NuSTAR immediately after the outburst, at 5 sigma confidence level and with a background-subtracted pulsed fraction of (40+-10)%. However, the signal became undetectable after a few days. Using Fermi data, we found that the gamma-ray emission in 0.5-300 GeV was suppressed along with the disappearance of the radio pulsations. This is likely caused by a reconfiguration of the magnetic field. We also discovered that the timing noise evolved dramatically, and the spin-down rate significantly increased after the 2016 glitch. We proposed that post-outburst temporal and spectral behaviors from radio to gamma-ray bands were caused by changes of the magnetosphere structure, pair plasma injection and the shrinking emission sites on the neutron star.

Timing offset calibration of CZTI instrument aboard ASTROSAT

Aim: Both the radio and the high-energy emission mechanism in pulsars is not yet properly understood. A multiwavelength study is likely to help better understand of such processes. ASTROSAT, the first Indian space-based observatory, has five instruments aboard that cover the electromagnetic spectrum from infra-red (1300 Å) to hard X-ray (380 keV). The instrument relevant to our study is the Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI). CZTI is a hard X-ray telescope functional over an energy range of 20–380 keV. We aim to estimate the timing offset introduced in the data acquisition pipeline of the instrument, which will help in time alignment of high energy time-series with those from two other ground based observatories, viz. the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT). Method: PSR B0531+21 is a well studied bright pulsar with closely aligned radio and hard X-ray pulse profiles. We used simultaneous observations of this pulsar with the ASTROSAT, the ORT, and the GMRT. As the pulsar resides in a very turbulent environment and shows significant timing noise, it was specially observed using the ORT with almost daily cadence to obtain good timing solutions. We also supplemented the ORT data with archival Fermi data for estimation of timing noise. We obtained the phase connected timing solution of the pulsar by estimating its dispersion measure variations and the timing noise. The timing offset of ASTROSAT instruments was estimated from fits to pulse arrival time data at the ASTROSAT and the radio observatories. Results: We estimate the relative offset of ASTROSAT-CZTI with respect to GMRT to be −4716 ± 50 μs. The corresponding offset with the ORT was −29639 ± 50 μs and Fermi-LAT was −5368 ± 56 μs respectively.

A Statistical Study to Determine the Origin of Long-duration Gamma-Ray Flares

Abstract Two scenarios have been proposed to account for sustained ≥30 MeV gamma-ray emission in solar flares: (1) prolonged particle acceleration/trapping involving large-scale magnetic loops at the flare site, and (2) precipitation of high-energy (&gt;300 MeV) protons accelerated at coronal/interplanetary shock waves. To determine which of these scenarios is more likely, we examine the associated soft X-ray flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and solar energetic proton events for (a) the long-duration gamma-ray flares (LDGRFs) observed by the Large Area Telescope on Fermi, and (b) delayed and/or spatially extended high-energy gamma-ray flares observed by the Gamma-ray Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission, the Gamma-1 telescope on the Gamma satellite, and the Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. For the Fermi data set of 11 LDGRFs with &gt;100 MeV emission lasting for ≥∼2 hr, we search for associations and reverse associations between LDGRFs, X-ray flares, CMEs, and SEPs, i.e., beginning with the gamma-ray flares and also, in turn, with X-class soft X-ray flares, fast (≥1500 km s−1) and wide CMEs, and intense (peak flux ≥2.67 × 10−3 protons cm−2 s−1 sr−1, with peak to background ratio &gt;1.38) &gt;300 MeV SEPs at 1 au. While LDGRFs tend to be associated with bright X-class flares, we find that only one-third of the X-class flares during the time of Fermi monitoring coincide with an LDGRF. However, nearly all fast, wide CMEs are associated with an LDGRF. These preliminary association analyses favor the proton precipitation scenario, although there is a prominent counter-example of a potentially magnetically well-connected solar eruption with &gt;100 MeV emission for ∼10 hr for which the near-Earth &gt;300 MeV proton intensity did not rise above background.

Gamma-ray emission from middle-aged supernova remnants interacting with molecular clouds: the challenge for current models

We compare the $\gamma$-ray spectra from 10 middle-aged supernova remnants (SNRs), which are interacting with molecular clouds (MCs), with the model prediction from widely used escaping scenario and direct interaction scenario. It is found that the $\gamma$-ray data is inconsistent with the escaping scenario statistically, as it predicts a diversity of spectral shape which is not observed. The inconsistency suggests that the free escape boundary adopted in the escaping model is not a good approximation, which challenges our understanding of cosmic ray (CR) escaping in SNRs. In addition, we show that ambient CRs is potentially important for the $\gamma$-ray emission of illuminated MCs external to W28 and W44. In direct interaction scenario, the model involving re-acceleration of pre-existing CRs and adiabatic compression is able to explain the emission from most SNRs. The dispersion shown in the TeV data is naturally explained by different acceleration time of CR particles in SNRs. Re-acceleration of pre-existing CRs suggests a transition of seed particles, which is from thermal injected seed particle in young SNRs to ambient CRs in old SNRs. The transition needs to be tested by future multi-wavelength observation. In the end, we propose that radiative SNR without MC interaction is also able to produce a significant amount of $\gamma$-ray emission. A good candidate is S147. With accumulated Fermi data and CTA in future we expect to detect more remnants like S147.

Precursors of short gamma-ray bursts detected by the INTEGRAL observatory

We have analyzed the light curves of 527 short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) registered by the SPI-ACS, SPI and IBIS/ISGRI experiments of INTEGRAL observatory totally to search for precursors. Both the light curves of each 527 individual burst and the averaged light curve of 372 brightest SPI-ACS bursts have been analyzed. In a few cases, we have found and investigated precursor candidates using SPI-ACS, SPI and IBIS/ISGRI of INTEGRAL, GBM and LAT of Fermi data. No convincing evidence for the existence of precursors of short GRBs has been found. A statistical analysis of the averaged light curve for the sample of brightest short bursts has revealed no regular precursor. Upper limits for the relative intensity of precursors have been estimated. We show that the fraction of short GRBs with precursors is less than 0.4% of all short bursts, detected by INTEGRAL.

Possible Association of Two Stellar Bowshocks with Unidentified Fermi Sources

Abstract The bowshocks of runaway stars had been theoretically proposed as gamma-ray sources. However, this hypothesis has not been confirmed by observations to date. In this paper, we present two runaway stars (λ Cep and LS 2355) whose bowshocks are coincident with the unidentified Fermi gamma-ray sources 3FLG J2210.1+5925 and 3FGL J1128.7–6232, respectively. After performing a cross-correlation between different catalogs at distinct wavelengths, we found that these bowshocks are the most peculiar objects in the Fermi position ellipses. Then we computed the inverse Compton emission and fitted the Fermi data in order to test the viability of both runaway stars as potential counterparts of the two high-energy sources. We obtained very reasonable values for the fitted parameters of both stars. We also evaluated the possibility for the source 3FGL J1128.7–6232, which is positionally coincident with a H ii region, to be the result of background cosmic-ray protons interacting with the matter of the cloud, as well as the probability of a pure chance association. We conclude that the gamma rays from these Fermi sources might be produced in the bowshocks of the considered runaway stars. In such a case, these would be the first sources of this class ever detected at gamma rays.

GRB 110731A within the IGC paradigm

Bright gamma-ray burst (GRB) 110731A was simultaneously observed by Fermi and Swift observatories, with a follow up optical observation which inferred the redshift of z = 2.83. Thus, available data are spanning from optical to high energy (GeV) emission. We analyze these data within the induced gravitational collapse (IGC) paradigm, recently introduced to explain temporal coincidence of some long GRBs with type Ic supernovae. The case of binary-driven hypcrnova (BdHN) assumes a close system, which starts as an evolved core - neutron star binary. After the core-collapse event, the new NS - black hole system is formed, emitting the GRB in the process. We performed the time-resolved and time-integrated analysis of the Fermi data. Preliminary results gave isotropic energy Eiso = 6.05 × 1053 erg and the total P-GRB energy of Ep–GRB = 3.7 × 1052 erg. At transparency point we found a Lorentz factor Γ ~ 2.17 × 103 laboratory radius of 8.33 x 1013 cm, P-GRB observed temperature of 168 keV and a baryon load B = 4.35 × 10-4. Simulated light-curve and prompt emission spectra showed the average circum burst medium density to be n ~ 0.03 particles per cm3. We reproduced the X-ray light-curve within the rest-frame of the source, finding the common late power-law behavior, with α = –1.22. Considering these results, we interpret GRB 110731A as a member of a BdHNe group.

Are starburst galaxies proton calorimeters?

Several starburst galaxies have been observed in the GeV and TeV bands. In these dense environments, gamma-ray emission should be dominated by cosmic ray (CR) interactions with the interstellar medium (pcrpism → π0 → γγ). Indeed, starbursts may act as proton ‘calorimeters’ where a substantial fraction of CR energy input is emitted in gamma-rays. Here, we build a one-zone, ‘thick-target’ model implementing calorimetry and placing a firm upper bound on gamma-ray emission from CR interactions. The model assumes that CRs are accelerated by supernovae (SNe), and all suffer nuclear interactions rather than escape. Our model has only two free parameters: the CR proton acceleration energy per SN εcr, and the proton injection spectral index s. We calculate the pionic gamma-ray emission from 10 MeV to 10 TeV, and derive thick-target parameters for six galaxies with Fermi, H.E.S.S., and/or VERITAS data. Our model provides good fits for the M82 and NGC 253, and yields εcr and s values suggesting that SN CR acceleration is similar in starbursts and in our Galaxy. We find that these starbursts are indeed nearly if not fully proton calorimeters. For NGC 4945 and NGC 1068, the models are consistent with calorimetry but are less well-constrained due to the lack of TeV data. However, the Circinus galaxy and the ultra-luminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 exceed our pionic upper-limit; possible explanations are discussed.

Unusual long-term low-activity states of EGRET blazars in the Fermi era

We examine the long-term (∼ 10 years) γ-ray variability of blazars observed by EGRET and Fermi and find that 10 EGRET-detected flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) were not present in any of the Fermi catalogue (during the first four years of Fermi observation). Six of these 10 EGRET sources show possible Fermi counterparts based on overlap with error circles given in 3 r d Fermi catalogue. A seventh EGRET source is positionally consistent with a newly discovered Fermi source from our analysis. Unlike the high luminosity state exhibited during 1991 to 1995, our analysis using seven years of Fermi data showed that five of these are at its low luminosity state in the GeV band. This result indicates that FSRQs exhibit a long-term quiescent state (more than 7 years). In addition, 37 new γ-ray sources are also detected during the course of this analysis. On the basis of AGN being the most dominant source class in γ-rays, many of these new sources could be associated with AGN and may exhibit long-term variabilities in γ-rays.

Evidence of an Internal Dissipation Origin for the High-energy Prompt Emission of GRB 170214A

Abstract The origin of the prompt high-energy ( MeV) emission of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, for which both an external shock origin and internal dissipation origin have been suggested, is still under debate. In the internal dissipation scenario, the high-energy emission is expected to exhibit significant temporal variability, tracking the keV/MeV fast variable behavior. Here, we report a detailed analysis of the Fermi data of GRB 170214A, which is sufficiently bright in high energies to enable a quantitative analysis of the correlation between high-energy emission and keV/MeV emission with high statistics. Our result shows a clear temporal correlation between high-energy and keV/MeV emission in the whole prompt emission phase as well as in two decomposed short time intervals. Such a correlation is also found in some other bright LAT GRBs, e.g., GRB 080916C, 090902B, and 090926A. For these GRBs as well as GRB 090510, we also find rapid temporal variability in the high-energy emission. We thus conclude that the prompt high-energy emission in these bright LAT GRBs should be due to an internal origin.

A Peculiar GRB 110731A: Lorentz Factor, Jet Composition, Central Engine, and Progenitor

Abstract The jet compositions, central engines, and progenitors of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) remain open questions in GRB physics. Applying broadband observations, including GRB prompt emission and afterglow properties derived from Fermi and Swift data, as well as from Keck host-galaxy observations, we address these questions for the peculiar, bright GRB 110731A. By using the pair-opacity method, we derive Γ0 &gt; 190 during the prompt emission phase. Alternatively, we derive Γ0 ≈ 580 and Γ0 ≈ 154 by invoking the early-afterglow phase within the homogeneous density and wind cases, respectively. On the other hand, nondetection of a thermal component in the spectra suggests that the prompt emission is likely powered by dissipation of a Poynting-flux-dominated jet leading to synchrotron radiation in an optically thin region. The nondetection of a jet break in the X-ray and optical bands allows us to place a lower limit on the jet opening angle θ j &gt; 5.°5. Within a millisecond magnetar central engine scenario, we derive the period P 0 and polar magnetic field strength B p, which have extreme (but still allowed) values. The moderately short observed duration (7.3 s) and relatively large redshift (z = 2.83) place the burst as a “rest-frame short” GRB, so the progenitor of the burst is subject to debate. Its relatively large parameter (ratio of the 1 s peak flux of a pseudo-GRB and the background flux) and a large physical offset from a potential host galaxy suggest that the progenitor of GRB 110731A may be a compact-star merger.