Gamma-Ray Emission in Binary Star Systems
Summary
Gamma-ray binaries are interacting stellar pairs in which a compact object—usually a neutron star or black hole—orbits a massive companion, generating high-energy photons through particle acceleration. In these systems, relativistic outflows from a pulsar wind or accretion-powered jet collide with the companion’s stellar wind or circumstellar disc, giving rise to synchrotron and inverse Compton processes that emit photons from MeV to TeV energies. Emission is typically modulated by orbital phase, with enhanced gamma-ray flux observed near periastron passages when separation is smallest. Detailed light curves and spectral variations probe magnetic field structures, shock physics and radiative cooling in extreme environments. Studies of systems such as LS 5039, PSR B1259−63 and HESS J0632+057 provide unique laboratories for testing particle acceleration models, assessing stellar mass‐loss rates and exploring the role of compact objects in feedback to the interstellar medium.
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Gamma-Ray Emission in Binary Star Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gamma-ray emission in binary star systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gamma-ray binary: A binary star system in which interactions between a compact object and its companion produce dominant emission in the gamma-ray band.
Pulsar wind: A relativistic outflow of electrons, positrons and magnetic fields emanating from a rapidly rotating neutron star.
Periastron: The point in an eccentric orbit at which two stars are closest, often associated with enhanced interaction and emission.
Synchrotron emission: Radiation produced by charged particles spiralling in magnetic fields at relativistic speeds.
Inverse Compton scattering: A process in which low‐energy photons gain energy by colliding with high‐energy charged particles, shifting into the gamma-ray regime.
References
- Further Evidence for the ∼9 s Pulsation in LS 5039 from NuSTAR and ASCA. The Astrophysical Journal (2023).
- The radio to GeV picture of PSR B1259-63 during the 2021 periastron passage. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2024).
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