HAWC Sensitivity to Multi-Component Spectra in Spatially Coincident Astrophysical Gamma-Ray Sources: Searching for Evidence of Pulsar Emission at TeV Energies

Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that serve as natural laboratories for extreme physics, producing radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. At γ-ray energies above tens of GeV, pulsed signals have been confirmed from only a few pulsars, with rare cases extending into the TeV regime. Detecting such high-energy pulsar emission is challenging because these sources are often found in regions that also host bright pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe), making it difficult to separate the pulsar emission from its surrounding nebular contribution.

In this work, we use simulated data from the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory to evaluate its sensitivity to such systems. We study scenarios with two spatially coincident γ-ray components, one pulsar-like and the other PWN-like, and explore how their relative properties affect HAWC’s ability to distinguish them. We also present preliminary pulsed analyses to assess the potential improvement in sensitivity when timing information is available. This study lays the foundation for future pulsar searches with HAWC by providing a framework for identifying and prioritizing promising GeV–TeV candidates. It also highlights the potential of HAWC to contribute to the broader effort of understanding pulsar emission at the highest energies, particularly for sources where reliable timing solutions are available, and helps guide the next steps in uncovering the role of pulsars as TeV emitters.