Spectral energy distribution of gamma-ray binaries: Sources and Processes

TL;DR

This paper reviews the non-thermal emission mechanisms, sources, and physical processes in gamma-ray binaries, highlighting recent research, candidate systems, and the role of gamma-ray absorption in shaping observed spectra.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the physical processes and sources involved in gamma-ray binaries, including recent developments and candidate systems.

Findings

Identification of key sources and processes in gamma-ray binary emission

Discussion of gamma-ray absorption effects on observed spectra

Summary of potential gamma-ray binary candidates

Abstract

Gamma-ray binaries are suitable sources to study high-energy processes in jets and outflows in general. In the last years, there has been a lot of activity in the field of gamma-ray binaries to identify the different factors that shape their non-thermal spectra, which ranges from radio to very high energies, as well as their lightcurves. In this work, I discuss the main aspects of the non-thermal emission in this class of objects, which presently includes high-mass microquasars, high-mass binaries hosting a non-accreting pulsar and, probably, massive star binaries; few potential candidates to be gamma-ray binaries are also presented. Finally, the importance of gamma-ray absorption is discussed, and the main physical ingredients, which are likely involved in the non-thermal radiation in gamma-ray binaries, are briefly considered.