First LOFAR Observations of Gamma-Ray Binaries

TL;DR

This paper presents the first deep LOFAR radio observations of the gamma-ray binary LS I +61 303, revealing extended structures at low frequencies that provide new insights into the system's outflows.

Contribution

It introduces the first low-frequency, high-sensitivity radio observations of a gamma-ray binary, expanding understanding of their extended emission structures.

Findings

Detection of extended radio structures at low frequencies.

Enhanced understanding of gamma-ray binary outflows.

First use of LOFAR for such observations.

Abstract

A few binary systems display High Energy (100 MeV - 100 GeV) and/or Very High Energy (> 100 GeV) gamma-ray emission. These systems also display non-thermal radio emission that can be resolved with long-baseline radio interferometers, revealing the presence of outflows. It is expected that at very low frequencies the synchrotron radio emission covers larger angular scales than has been reported up to now. Here we present preliminary results of the first deep radio observations of the gamma-ray binary LS I +61 303 with LOFAR, which is sensitive to extended structures on arcsecond to arcminute scales.