HAWC observations strongly favor pulsar interpretations of the cosmic-ray positron excess

Dan Hooper, Ilias Cholis, Tim Linden, and Ke Fang
Phys. Rev. D 96, 103013 – Published 17 November 2017

Abstract

Recent measurements of the Geminga and B0656+14 pulsars by the gamma-ray telescope HAWC (along with earlier measurements by Milagro) indicate that these objects generate significant fluxes of very high-energy electrons. In this paper, we use the very high-energy gamma-ray intensity and spectrum of these pulsars to calculate and constrain their expected contributions to the local cosmic-ray positron spectrum. Among models that are capable of reproducing the observed characteristics of the gamma-ray emission, we find that pulsars invariably produce a flux of high-energy positrons that is similar in spectrum and magnitude to the positron fraction measured by PAMELA and AMS-02. In light of this result, we conclude that it is very likely that pulsars provide the dominant contribution to the long perplexing cosmic-ray positron excess.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 12 July 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.96.103013

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Gravitation, Cosmology & AstrophysicsParticles & Fields

Authors & Affiliations

Dan Hooper1,2,3,*, Ilias Cholis4,†, Tim Linden5,‡, and Ke Fang6,7,§

  • 1Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Center for Particle Astrophysics, Batavia, Illinois 60510, USA
  • 2University of Chicago, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
  • 3University of Chicago, Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
  • 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
  • 5Ohio State University, Center for Cosmology and AstroParticle Physics (CCAPP), Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
  • 6University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
  • 7Joint Space-Science Institute, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 96, Iss. 10 — 15 November 2017

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×