Hunting for New Gamma-ray Binaries - Technique Development

TL;DR

This paper introduces new techniques for analyzing Fermi LAT gamma-ray data to detect periodic variability, aiming to discover new gamma-ray binary systems and expand understanding of their astrophysics.

Contribution

The paper develops and demonstrates novel methods for extracting high-quality light curves and identifying periodic signals in gamma-ray sources, enhancing detection capabilities.

Findings

Demonstrated increased sensitivity in detecting periodic variability

Potential to discover new gamma-ray binary systems

Techniques applicable to all cataloged Fermi sources

Abstract

There are only a few sources that are definitely known to be gamma-ray binaries. Two of these are listed as associations in the Fermi LAT Bright Source List. We are developing novel techniques to extract high signal-to-noise light curves of all cataloged Fermi sources and to search for periodic variability using appropriately weighted power spectra. The detection of periodic variability would be strong evidence for the detection of a new gamma-ray binary. The LAT's sensitivity provides the opportunity to open up completely new discovery space for additional binary systems, potentially involving novel astrophysics. We present here demonstrations of the sensitivity gains obtained through the use of these techniques.