Pulsars in the Mid-Energy Gamma-Ray Band - Implications for ComPair

ORAL

Abstract

The investigation of the high-energy gamma-ray band by Fermi has revolutionized our understanding of the populations of pulsars - and by extension neutron starts - in the Galactic field. However, there exist a number of pulsars with energy output that peaks below 500 GeV, and whose gamma-ray characteristics are not well constrained by Fermi. The Compton-Pair Telescope (ComPair) is a proposed wide-field medium-energy gamma-ray mission (0.2 keV to > 500 MeV), re-opening an energy regime that was last investigated by COMPTEL on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The increased sensitivity and spatial resolution of the proposed instrument may lead to a similar knowledge revolution for these MeV-peaked pulsars. Here we discuss the properties of the MeV-peaked pulsar population, and speculate on the potential new science that ComPair may provide.

Authors

  • Elizabeth Ferrara

    Univ of Maryland-College Park

  • Alice Harding

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center