GeV detection of HESS J0632+057

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of a new GeV gamma-ray source, Fermi J0632.6+0548, likely the counterpart to the TeV gamma-ray binary HESS J0632+057, revealing variability and possible spectral turnover above 10 GeV.

Contribution

First detection of GeV emission from HESS J0632+057, identifying a new gamma-ray source and suggesting its association with the known TeV binary.

Findings

Discovery of Fermi J0632.6+0548 coincident with HESS J0632+057

Observed flux variability linked to orbital phase

Indication of spectral turnover above 10 GeV

Abstract

HESS J0632+057 is the only gamma-ray binary that has been detected at TeV energies, but not at GeV energies yet. Based on nearly nine years of Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) Pass 8 data, we report here on a deep search for the gamma-ray emission from HESS J0632+057 in the 0.1-300 GeV energy range. We find a previously unknown gamma-ray source, Fermi J0632.6+0548, spatially coincident with HESS J0632+057. The measured flux of Fermi J0632.6+0548 is consistent with the previous flux upper limit on HESS J0632+057 and shows variability that can be related to the HESS J0632+057 orbital phase. We propose that Fermi J0632.6+0548 is the GeV counterpart of HESS J0632+057. Considering the Very High Energy (VHE) spectrum of HESS J0632+057, a possible spectral turnover above 10 GeV may exist in Fermi J0632.6+0548, as appears to be common in other established gamma-ray binaries.