Periodicity Search of Possible X-ray Counterparts to Radio-quiet Gamma-ray Pulsar Candidates

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cross-checking method using two X-ray datasets to identify candidate periodicities in potential X-ray counterparts to gamma-ray pulsar candidates, aiding future targeted searches.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel procedure for detecting candidate periods in X-ray sources by cross-verifying existing data, improving the efficiency of gamma-ray pulsar identification.

Findings

Identified candidate periodicities in 8 X-ray sources.

Potential periods can guide future targeted searches.

Method reduces the need for extensive blind searches.

Abstract

Periodicity search in gamma-ray data is usually difficult because of the small number of detected photons. A periodicity in the timing signal at other energy bands from the counterpart to the gamma-ray source may help to establish the periodicity in the gamma-ray emission and strengthen the identification of the source in different energy bands. It may, however, still be difficult to find the period directly from X-ray data because of limited exposure. We developed a procedure, by cross-checking two X-ray data sets, to find candidate periods for X-ray sources which are possible counterparts to gamma-ray pulsar candidates. Here we report the results of this method obtained with all the currently available X-ray data of 8 X-ray sources. Some tempting periodicity features were found. Those candidate periods can serve as the target periods for future search when new data become available so that a blind search with a huge number of trials can be avoided.