Binaries, microquasars and GLAST

TL;DR

This paper discusses how gamma-ray observations of microquasars and binaries, especially with the upcoming GLAST telescope, can reveal high-energy processes, particle acceleration, and the connection between accretion and ejection mechanisms.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of GLAST to advance understanding of high-energy emissions and the physics of microquasars and pulsar wind binaries.

Findings

Microquasars emit high-energy gamma-rays from jets and shocks.

Three binaries are confirmed gamma-ray sources above 100 MeV/GeV.

GLAST will improve insights into accretion-ejection links and pulsar wind interactions.

Abstract

Radio and X-ray observations of the relativistic jets of microquasars show evidence for the acceleration of particles to very high energies. Signatures of non-thermal processes occurring closer in to the compact object can also be found. In addition, three binaries are now established emitters of high (> 100 MeV) and/or very high (> 100GeV) energy gamma-rays. High-energy emission can originate from a microquasar jet (accretion-powered) or from a shocked pulsar wind (rotation-powered). I discuss the impact GLAST will have in the very near future on studies of such binaries. GLAST is expected to shed new light on the link between accretion and ejection in microquasars and to enable to probe pulsar winds on small scales in rotation-powered binaries.