Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi

A. A. Abdo; M. Ackermann; M. Ajello; A. Allafort; J. Ballet; G. Barbiellini; D. Bastieri; K. Bechtol; R. Bellazzini; B. Berenji; R. D. Blandford; E. Bonamente; A. W. Borgland; J. Bregeon; M. Brigida; P. Bruel; R. Buehler; S. Buson; G. A. Caliandro; R. A. Cameron; F. Camilo; P. A. Caraveo; C. Cecchi; E. Charles; S. Chaty; A. Chekhtman; M. Chernyakova; C. C. Cheung; J. Chiang; S. Ciprini; R. Claus; J. Cohen-Tanugi; L. R. Cominsky; S. Corbel; S. Cutini; F. D'Ammando; A. De Angelis; P. R. Den Hartog; F. De Palma; C. D. Dermer; S. W. Digel; E. Do Couto E Silva; M. Dormody; P. S. Drell; A. Drlica-Wagner; R. Dubois; G. Dubus; D. Dumora; T. Enoto; C. M. Espinoza; C. Favuzzi; S. J. Fegan; E. C. Ferrara; W. B. Focke; P. Fortin; Y. Fukazawa; S. Funk; P. Fusco; F. Gargano; D. Gasparrini; N. Gehrels; S. Germani; N. Giglietto; P. Giommi; F. Giordano; M. Giroletti; T. Glanzman; G. Godfrey; I. A. Grenier; M. H. Grondin; J. E. Grove; E. Grundstrom; S. Guiriec; C. Gwon; D. Hadasch; A. K. Harding; M. Hayashida; E. Hays; G. Jóhannesson; A. S. Johnson; T. J. Johnson; S. Johnston; T. Kamae; H. Katagiri; J. Kataoka; M. Keith; M. Kerr; J. Knödlseder; M. Kramer; M. Kuss; J. Lande; S. H. Lee; M. Lemoine-Goumard; F. Longo; F. Loparco; M. N. Lovellette; P. Lubrano; R. N. Manchester; M. Marelli; M. N. Mazziotta; P. F. Michelson; W. Mitthumsiri; T. Mizuno; A. A. Moiseev; C. Monte; M. E. Monzani; A. Morselli; I. V. Moskalenko; S. Murgia; T. Nakamori; M. Naumann-Godo; A. Neronov; P. L. Nolan; J. P. Norris; A. Noutsos; E. Nuss; T. Ohsugi; A. Okumura; N. Omodei; E. Orlando; D. Paneque; D. Parent; M. Pesce-Rollins; M. Pierbattista; F. Piron; T. A. Porter; A. Possenti; S. Rainò; R. Rando; P. S. Ray; M. Razzano; S. Razzaque; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; T. Reposeur; S. Ritz; H. F.W. Sadrozinski; J. D. Scargle; C. Sgrò; R. Shannon; E. J. Siskind; P. D. Smith; G. Spandre; P. Spinelli; M. S. Strickman; D. J. Suson; H. Takahashi; T. Tanaka; J. G. Thayer; J. B. Thayer; D. J. Thompson; S. E. Thorsett; L. Tibaldo; O. Tibolla; D. F. Torres; G. Tosti; E. Troja; Y. Uchiyama; T. L. Usher; J. Vandenbroucke; V. Vasileiou; G. Vianello; V. Vitale; A. P. Waite; P. Wang; B. L. Winer; M. T. Wolff; D. L. Wood; K. S. Wood; Z. Yang; M. Ziegler; S. Zimmer

doi:10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11

Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi

A. A. Abdo^*, M. Ackermann, M. Ajello, A. Allafort, J. Ballet, G. Barbiellini, D. Bastieri, K. Bechtol, R. Bellazzini, B. Berenji, R. D. Blandford, E. Bonamente, A. W. Borgland, J. Bregeon, M. Brigida, P. Bruel, R. Buehler, S. Buson, G. A. Caliandro, R. A. CameronF. Camilo, P. A. Caraveo, C. Cecchi, E. Charles, S. Chaty, A. Chekhtman, M. Chernyakova, C. C. Cheung, J. Chiang, S. Ciprini, R. Claus, J. Cohen-Tanugi, L. R. Cominsky, S. Corbel, S. Cutini, F. D'Ammando, A. De Angelis, P. R. Den Hartog, F. De Palma, C. D. Dermer, S. W. Digel, E. Do Couto E Silva, M. Dormody, P. S. Drell, A. Drlica-Wagner, R. Dubois, G. Dubus, D. Dumora, T. Enoto, C. M. Espinoza, C. Favuzzi, S. J. Fegan, E. C. Ferrara, W. B. Focke, P. Fortin, Y. Fukazawa, S. Funk, P. Fusco, F. Gargano, D. Gasparrini, N. Gehrels, S. Germani, N. Giglietto, P. Giommi, F. Giordano, M. Giroletti, T. Glanzman, G. Godfrey, I. A. Grenier, M. H. Grondin, J. E. Grove, E. Grundstrom, S. Guiriec, C. Gwon, D. Hadasch, A. K. Harding, M. Hayashida, E. Hays, G. Jóhannesson, A. S. Johnson, T. J. Johnson, S. Johnston, T. Kamae, H. Katagiri, J. Kataoka, M. Keith, M. Kerr, J. Knödlseder, M. Kramer, M. Kuss, J. Lande, S. H. Lee, M. Lemoine-Goumard, F. Longo, F. Loparco, M. N. Lovellette, P. Lubrano, R. N. Manchester, M. Marelli, M. N. Mazziotta, P. F. Michelson, W. Mitthumsiri, T. Mizuno, A. A. Moiseev, C. Monte, M. E. Monzani, A. Morselli, I. V. Moskalenko, S. Murgia, T. Nakamori, M. Naumann-Godo, A. Neronov, P. L. Nolan, J. P. Norris, A. Noutsos, E. Nuss, T. Ohsugi, A. Okumura, N. Omodei, E. Orlando, D. Paneque, D. Parent, M. Pesce-Rollins, M. Pierbattista, F. Piron, T. A. Porter, A. Possenti, S. Rainò, R. Rando, P. S. Ray, M. Razzano, S. Razzaque, A. Reimer, O. Reimer, T. Reposeur, S. Ritz, H. F.W. Sadrozinski, J. D. Scargle, C. Sgrò, R. Shannon, E. J. Siskind, P. D. Smith, G. Spandre, P. Spinelli, M. S. Strickman, D. J. Suson, H. Takahashi, T. Tanaka, J. G. Thayer, J. B. Thayer, D. J. Thompson, S. E. Thorsett, L. Tibaldo, O. Tibolla, D. F. Torres, G. Tosti, E. Troja, Y. Uchiyama, T. L. Usher, J. Vandenbroucke, V. Vasileiou, G. Vianello, V. Vitale, A. P. Waite, P. Wang, B. L. Winer, M. T. Wolff, D. L. Wood, K. S. Wood, Z. Yang, M. Ziegler, S. Zimmer

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Advanced Science and Engineering

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

142 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report on the discovery of ≥100MeV γ-rays from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi. The system comprises a radio pulsar in orbit around a Be star. We report on LAT observations from near apastron to ∼128 days after the time of periastron, ∼t_p , on 2010 December 15. No γ-ray emission was detected from this source when it was far from periastron. Faint γ-ray emission appeared as the pulsar approached periastron. At ∼t_p + 30 days, the ≥100MeV γ-ray flux increased over a period of a few days to a peak flux 20-30 times that seen during the pre-periastron period, but with a softer spectrum. For the following month, it was seen to be variable on daily timescales, but remained at ∼(1-4) × 10^-6 cm^-2 s^-1 before starting to fade at ∼t_p + 57 days. The total γ-ray luminosity observed during this period is comparable to the spin-down power of the pulsar. Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the source showed no corresponding dramatic changes in radio and X-ray flux between the pre-periastron and post-periastron flares. We discuss possible explanations for the observed γ-ray-only flaring of the source.

Original language	English
Article number	L11
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	736
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11
Publication status	Published - 2011 Jul 20

Keywords

X-rays: binaries
binaries: eclipsing
gamma rays: stars
pulsars: individual (PSR B1259-63)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11

Cite this

Abdo, A. A., Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Allafort, A., Ballet, J., Barbiellini, G., Bastieri, D., Bechtol, K., Bellazzini, R., Berenji, B., Blandford, R. D., Bonamente, E., Borgland, A. W., Bregeon, J., Brigida, M., Bruel, P., Buehler, R., Buson, S., Caliandro, G. A., ... Zimmer, S. (2011). Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 736(1), Article L11. https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11

Abdo, AA, Ackermann, M, Ajello, M, Allafort, A, Ballet, J, Barbiellini, G, Bastieri, D, Bechtol, K, Bellazzini, R, Berenji, B, Blandford, RD, Bonamente, E, Borgland, AW, Bregeon, J, Brigida, M, Bruel, P, Buehler, R, Buson, S, Caliandro, GA, Cameron, RA, Camilo, F, Caraveo, PA, Cecchi, C, Charles, E, Chaty, S, Chekhtman, A, Chernyakova, M, Cheung, CC, Chiang, J, Ciprini, S, Claus, R, Cohen-Tanugi, J, Cominsky, LR, Corbel, S, Cutini, S, D'Ammando, F, De Angelis, A, Den Hartog, PR, De Palma, F, Dermer, CD, Digel, SW, Do Couto E Silva, E, Dormody, M, Drell, PS, Drlica-Wagner, A, Dubois, R, Dubus, G, Dumora, D, Enoto, T, Espinoza, CM, Favuzzi, C, Fegan, SJ, Ferrara, EC, Focke, WB, Fortin, P, Fukazawa, Y, Funk, S, Fusco, P, Gargano, F, Gasparrini, D, Gehrels, N, Germani, S, Giglietto, N, Giommi, P, Giordano, F, Giroletti, M, Glanzman, T, Godfrey, G, Grenier, IA, Grondin, MH, Grove, JE, Grundstrom, E, Guiriec, S, Gwon, C, Hadasch, D, Harding, AK, Hayashida, M, Hays, E, Jóhannesson, G, Johnson, AS, Johnson, TJ, Johnston, S, Kamae, T, Katagiri, H, Kataoka, J, Keith, M, Kerr, M, Knödlseder, J, Kramer, M, Kuss, M, Lande, J, Lee, SH, Lemoine-Goumard, M, Longo, F, Loparco, F, Lovellette, MN, Lubrano, P, Manchester, RN, Marelli, M, Mazziotta, MN, Michelson, PF, Mitthumsiri, W, Mizuno, T, Moiseev, AA, Monte, C, Monzani, ME, Morselli, A, Moskalenko, IV, Murgia, S, Nakamori, T, Naumann-Godo, M, Neronov, A, Nolan, PL, Norris, JP, Noutsos, A, Nuss, E, Ohsugi, T, Okumura, A, Omodei, N, Orlando, E, Paneque, D, Parent, D, Pesce-Rollins, M, Pierbattista, M, Piron, F, Porter, TA, Possenti, A, Rainò, S, Rando, R, Ray, PS, Razzano, M, Razzaque, S, Reimer, A, Reimer, O, Reposeur, T, Ritz, S, Sadrozinski, HFW, Scargle, JD, Sgrò, C, Shannon, R, Siskind, EJ, Smith, PD, Spandre, G, Spinelli, P, Strickman, MS, Suson, DJ, Takahashi, H, Tanaka, T, Thayer, JG, Thayer, JB, Thompson, DJ, Thorsett, SE, Tibaldo, L, Tibolla, O, Torres, DF, Tosti, G, Troja, E, Uchiyama, Y, Usher, TL, Vandenbroucke, J, Vasileiou, V, Vianello, G, Vitale, V, Waite, AP, Wang, P, Winer, BL, Wolff, MT, Wood, DL, Wood, KS, Yang, Z, Ziegler, M & Zimmer, S 2011, 'Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 736, no. 1, L11. https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11

@article{45d6ed4d7d214f8bade844c179c3a71e,

title = "Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi",

abstract = "We report on the discovery of ≥100MeV γ-rays from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi. The system comprises a radio pulsar in orbit around a Be star. We report on LAT observations from near apastron to ∼128 days after the time of periastron, ∼tp , on 2010 December 15. No γ-ray emission was detected from this source when it was far from periastron. Faint γ-ray emission appeared as the pulsar approached periastron. At ∼tp + 30 days, the ≥100MeV γ-ray flux increased over a period of a few days to a peak flux 20-30 times that seen during the pre-periastron period, but with a softer spectrum. For the following month, it was seen to be variable on daily timescales, but remained at ∼(1-4) × 10-6 cm-2 s-1 before starting to fade at ∼tp + 57 days. The total γ-ray luminosity observed during this period is comparable to the spin-down power of the pulsar. Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the source showed no corresponding dramatic changes in radio and X-ray flux between the pre-periastron and post-periastron flares. We discuss possible explanations for the observed γ-ray-only flaring of the source.",

keywords = "X-rays: binaries, binaries: eclipsing, gamma rays: stars, pulsars: individual (PSR B1259-63)",

author = "Abdo, {A. A.} and M. Ackermann and M. Ajello and A. Allafort and J. Ballet and G. Barbiellini and D. Bastieri and K. Bechtol and R. Bellazzini and B. Berenji and Blandford, {R. D.} and E. Bonamente and Borgland, {A. W.} and J. Bregeon and M. Brigida and P. Bruel and R. Buehler and S. Buson and Caliandro, {G. A.} and Cameron, {R. A.} and F. Camilo and Caraveo, {P. A.} and C. Cecchi and E. Charles and S. Chaty and A. Chekhtman and M. Chernyakova and Cheung, {C. C.} and J. Chiang and S. Ciprini and R. Claus and J. Cohen-Tanugi and Cominsky, {L. R.} and S. Corbel and S. Cutini and F. D'Ammando and {De Angelis}, A. and {Den Hartog}, {P. R.} and {De Palma}, F. and Dermer, {C. D.} and Digel, {S. W.} and {Do Couto E Silva}, E. and M. Dormody and Drell, {P. S.} and A. Drlica-Wagner and R. Dubois and G. Dubus and D. Dumora and T. Enoto and Espinoza, {C. M.} and C. Favuzzi and Fegan, {S. J.} and Ferrara, {E. C.} and Focke, {W. B.} and P. Fortin and Y. Fukazawa and S. Funk and P. Fusco and F. Gargano and D. Gasparrini and N. Gehrels and S. Germani and N. Giglietto and P. Giommi and F. Giordano and M. Giroletti and T. Glanzman and G. Godfrey and Grenier, {I. A.} and Grondin, {M. H.} and Grove, {J. E.} and E. Grundstrom and S. Guiriec and C. Gwon and D. Hadasch and Harding, {A. K.} and M. Hayashida and E. Hays and G. J{\'o}hannesson and Johnson, {A. S.} and Johnson, {T. J.} and S. Johnston and T. Kamae and H. Katagiri and J. Kataoka and M. Keith and M. Kerr and J. Kn{\"o}dlseder and M. Kramer and M. Kuss and J. Lande and Lee, {S. H.} and M. Lemoine-Goumard and F. Longo and F. Loparco and Lovellette, {M. N.} and P. Lubrano and Manchester, {R. N.} and M. Marelli and Mazziotta, {M. N.} and Michelson, {P. F.} and W. Mitthumsiri and T. Mizuno and Moiseev, {A. A.} and C. Monte and Monzani, {M. E.} and A. Morselli and Moskalenko, {I. V.} and S. Murgia and T. Nakamori and M. Naumann-Godo and A. Neronov and Nolan, {P. L.} and Norris, {J. P.} and A. Noutsos and E. Nuss and T. Ohsugi and A. Okumura and N. Omodei and E. Orlando and D. Paneque and D. Parent and M. Pesce-Rollins and M. Pierbattista and F. Piron and Porter, {T. A.} and A. Possenti and S. Rain{\`o} and R. Rando and Ray, {P. S.} and M. Razzano and S. Razzaque and A. Reimer and O. Reimer and T. Reposeur and S. Ritz and Sadrozinski, {H. F.W.} and Scargle, {J. D.} and C. Sgr{\`o} and R. Shannon and Siskind, {E. J.} and Smith, {P. D.} and G. Spandre and P. Spinelli and Strickman, {M. S.} and Suson, {D. J.} and H. Takahashi and T. Tanaka and Thayer, {J. G.} and Thayer, {J. B.} and Thompson, {D. J.} and Thorsett, {S. E.} and L. Tibaldo and O. Tibolla and Torres, {D. F.} and G. Tosti and E. Troja and Y. Uchiyama and Usher, {T. L.} and J. Vandenbroucke and V. Vasileiou and G. Vianello and V. Vitale and Waite, {A. P.} and P. Wang and Winer, {B. L.} and Wolff, {M. T.} and Wood, {D. L.} and Wood, {K. S.} and Z. Yang and M. Ziegler and S. Zimmer",

year = "2011",

month = jul,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11",

language = "English",

volume = "736",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi

AU - Abdo, A. A.

AU - Ackermann, M.

AU - Ajello, M.

AU - Allafort, A.

AU - Ballet, J.

AU - Barbiellini, G.

AU - Bastieri, D.

AU - Bechtol, K.

AU - Bellazzini, R.

AU - Berenji, B.

AU - Blandford, R. D.

AU - Bonamente, E.

AU - Borgland, A. W.

AU - Bregeon, J.

AU - Brigida, M.

AU - Bruel, P.

AU - Buehler, R.

AU - Buson, S.

AU - Caliandro, G. A.

AU - Cameron, R. A.

AU - Camilo, F.

AU - Caraveo, P. A.

AU - Cecchi, C.

AU - Charles, E.

AU - Chaty, S.

AU - Chekhtman, A.

AU - Chernyakova, M.

AU - Cheung, C. C.

AU - Chiang, J.

AU - Ciprini, S.

AU - Claus, R.

AU - Cohen-Tanugi, J.

AU - Cominsky, L. R.

AU - Corbel, S.

AU - Cutini, S.

AU - D'Ammando, F.

AU - De Angelis, A.

AU - Den Hartog, P. R.

AU - De Palma, F.

AU - Dermer, C. D.

AU - Digel, S. W.

AU - Do Couto E Silva, E.

AU - Dormody, M.

AU - Drell, P. S.

AU - Drlica-Wagner, A.

AU - Dubois, R.

AU - Dubus, G.

AU - Dumora, D.

AU - Enoto, T.

AU - Espinoza, C. M.

AU - Favuzzi, C.

AU - Fegan, S. J.

AU - Ferrara, E. C.

AU - Focke, W. B.

AU - Fortin, P.

AU - Fukazawa, Y.

AU - Funk, S.

AU - Fusco, P.

AU - Gargano, F.

AU - Gasparrini, D.

AU - Gehrels, N.

AU - Germani, S.

AU - Giglietto, N.

AU - Giommi, P.

AU - Giordano, F.

AU - Giroletti, M.

AU - Glanzman, T.

AU - Godfrey, G.

AU - Grenier, I. A.

AU - Grondin, M. H.

AU - Grove, J. E.

AU - Grundstrom, E.

AU - Guiriec, S.

AU - Gwon, C.

AU - Hadasch, D.

AU - Harding, A. K.

AU - Hayashida, M.

AU - Hays, E.

AU - Jóhannesson, G.

AU - Johnson, A. S.

AU - Johnson, T. J.

AU - Johnston, S.

AU - Kamae, T.

AU - Katagiri, H.

AU - Kataoka, J.

AU - Keith, M.

AU - Kerr, M.

AU - Knödlseder, J.

AU - Kramer, M.

AU - Kuss, M.

AU - Lande, J.

AU - Lee, S. H.

AU - Lemoine-Goumard, M.

AU - Longo, F.

AU - Loparco, F.

AU - Lovellette, M. N.

AU - Lubrano, P.

AU - Manchester, R. N.

AU - Marelli, M.

AU - Mazziotta, M. N.

AU - Michelson, P. F.

AU - Mitthumsiri, W.

AU - Mizuno, T.

AU - Moiseev, A. A.

AU - Monte, C.

AU - Monzani, M. E.

AU - Morselli, A.

AU - Moskalenko, I. V.

AU - Murgia, S.

AU - Nakamori, T.

AU - Naumann-Godo, M.

AU - Neronov, A.

AU - Nolan, P. L.

AU - Norris, J. P.

AU - Noutsos, A.

AU - Nuss, E.

AU - Ohsugi, T.

AU - Okumura, A.

AU - Omodei, N.

AU - Orlando, E.

AU - Paneque, D.

AU - Parent, D.

AU - Pesce-Rollins, M.

AU - Pierbattista, M.

AU - Piron, F.

AU - Porter, T. A.

AU - Possenti, A.

AU - Rainò, S.

AU - Rando, R.

AU - Ray, P. S.

AU - Razzano, M.

AU - Razzaque, S.

AU - Reimer, A.

AU - Reimer, O.

AU - Reposeur, T.

AU - Ritz, S.

AU - Sadrozinski, H. F.W.

AU - Scargle, J. D.

AU - Sgrò, C.

AU - Shannon, R.

AU - Siskind, E. J.

AU - Smith, P. D.

AU - Spandre, G.

AU - Spinelli, P.

AU - Strickman, M. S.

AU - Suson, D. J.

AU - Takahashi, H.

AU - Tanaka, T.

AU - Thayer, J. G.

AU - Thayer, J. B.

AU - Thompson, D. J.

AU - Thorsett, S. E.

AU - Tibaldo, L.

AU - Tibolla, O.

AU - Torres, D. F.

AU - Tosti, G.

AU - Troja, E.

AU - Uchiyama, Y.

AU - Usher, T. L.

AU - Vandenbroucke, J.

AU - Vasileiou, V.

AU - Vianello, G.

AU - Vitale, V.

AU - Waite, A. P.

AU - Wang, P.

AU - Winer, B. L.

AU - Wolff, M. T.

AU - Wood, D. L.

AU - Wood, K. S.

AU - Yang, Z.

AU - Ziegler, M.

AU - Zimmer, S.

PY - 2011/7/20

Y1 - 2011/7/20

N2 - We report on the discovery of ≥100MeV γ-rays from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi. The system comprises a radio pulsar in orbit around a Be star. We report on LAT observations from near apastron to ∼128 days after the time of periastron, ∼tp , on 2010 December 15. No γ-ray emission was detected from this source when it was far from periastron. Faint γ-ray emission appeared as the pulsar approached periastron. At ∼tp + 30 days, the ≥100MeV γ-ray flux increased over a period of a few days to a peak flux 20-30 times that seen during the pre-periastron period, but with a softer spectrum. For the following month, it was seen to be variable on daily timescales, but remained at ∼(1-4) × 10-6 cm-2 s-1 before starting to fade at ∼tp + 57 days. The total γ-ray luminosity observed during this period is comparable to the spin-down power of the pulsar. Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the source showed no corresponding dramatic changes in radio and X-ray flux between the pre-periastron and post-periastron flares. We discuss possible explanations for the observed γ-ray-only flaring of the source.

AB - We report on the discovery of ≥100MeV γ-rays from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board Fermi. The system comprises a radio pulsar in orbit around a Be star. We report on LAT observations from near apastron to ∼128 days after the time of periastron, ∼tp , on 2010 December 15. No γ-ray emission was detected from this source when it was far from periastron. Faint γ-ray emission appeared as the pulsar approached periastron. At ∼tp + 30 days, the ≥100MeV γ-ray flux increased over a period of a few days to a peak flux 20-30 times that seen during the pre-periastron period, but with a softer spectrum. For the following month, it was seen to be variable on daily timescales, but remained at ∼(1-4) × 10-6 cm-2 s-1 before starting to fade at ∼tp + 57 days. The total γ-ray luminosity observed during this period is comparable to the spin-down power of the pulsar. Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the source showed no corresponding dramatic changes in radio and X-ray flux between the pre-periastron and post-periastron flares. We discuss possible explanations for the observed γ-ray-only flaring of the source.

KW - X-rays: binaries

KW - binaries: eclipsing

KW - gamma rays: stars

KW - pulsars: individual (PSR B1259-63)

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960927295&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79960927295&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11

DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/736/1/L11

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:79960927295

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 736

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 1

M1 - L11

ER -

Discovery of high-energy gamma-ray emission from the binary system PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around periastron with Fermi

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