Correlated X-ray and Very High Energy emission in the gamma-ray binary LS I +61 303

TL;DR

This study presents simultaneous X-ray and VHE gamma-ray observations of LS I +61 303, revealing a strong correlation that supports leptonic emission models involving synchrotron and inverse Compton processes.

Contribution

First simultaneous detection of correlated X-ray and VHE gamma-ray emission in LS I +61 303, providing insights into the particle acceleration mechanisms in gamma-ray binaries.

Findings

Strong correlation (r=0.97) between X-ray and VHE emission during outburst

X-ray and VHE peaks occur simultaneously at phase 0.62

Results favor leptonic models with electrons producing both X-ray and VHE emission

Abstract

The discovery of very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emitting X-ray binaries has triggered an intense effort to better understand the particle acceleration, absorption, and emission mechanisms in compact binary systems, which provide variable conditions along eccentric orbits. Despite this, the nature of some of these systems, and of the accelerated particles producing the VHE emission, is unclear. To answer some of these open questions, we conducted a multiwavelength campaign of the VHE gamma-ray emitting X-ray binary LS I +61 303 including the MAGIC telescope, XMM-Newton, and Swift during 60% of an orbit in 2007 September. We detect a simultaneous outburst at X-ray and VHE bands, with the peak at phase 0.62 and a similar shape at both wavelengths. A linear fit to the simultaneous X-ray/VHE pairs obtained during the outburst yields a correlation coefficient of r=0.97, while a linear fit to all simultaneous pairs provides r=0.81. Since a variable absorption of the VHE emission towards the observer is not expected for the data reported here, the correlation found indicates a simultaneity in the emission processes. Assuming that they are dominated by a single particle population, either hadronic or leptonic, the X-ray/VHE flux ratio favors leptonic models. This fact, together with the detected photon indices, suggests that in LS I +61 303 the X-rays are the result of synchrotron radiation of the same electrons that produce VHE emission as a result of inverse Compton scattering of stellar photons.