Galactic Binary Systems

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current observational status of Galactic binary systems emitting gamma rays, highlighting their role as natural laboratories for studying particle acceleration and gamma-ray processes near compact objects.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of known gamma-ray emitting binary systems and discusses recent interpretations of observational data.

Findings

Few Galactic sources are firmly identified in GeV and TeV bands.

Binary systems serve as extreme particle accelerators with repeating conditions.

Recent interpretations shed light on gamma-ray production near compact objects.

Abstract

The population of binary systems known to emit in the GeV and TeV bands consists of only a few firmly identified Galactic sources. These rare objects constitute extreme particle accelerators operating under varying, but regularly repeating, conditions. As such, they provide access to a unique laboratory in which to study particle acceleration, and the nature of gamma-ray production, emission and absorption processes near compact objects. Here we review the current observational status of the field, and discuss some of the recent interpretations of the results.