3HWC J0631+107/LHAASO J0631+1040: a TeV halo powered by the pulsar J0631+1036?

TL;DR

This paper investigates the TeV source 3HWC J0631+107/LHAASO J0631+1040, suggesting it is a TeV halo powered by the pulsar J0631+1036, based on gamma-ray data analysis and comparison with Geminga.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of the GeV gamma-ray environment around the pulsar J0631+1036, supporting its role as the power source of the TeV halo.

Findings

The region around the pulsar is gamma-ray quiet after pulsar emission removal.

The spectral features support the TeV source being a pulsar-powered halo.

The pulsar J0631+1036 is similar to Geminga in properties.

Abstract

PSR~J0631+1036 is a middle-aged pulsar with properties similar to those of the nearby Geminga pulsar. It is bright in $\gamma$-rays, and has been noted as the only source possibly associated with the TeV source 3HWC J0631+107 (also the LHAASO J0631+1040). For understanding the nature of the TeV source, we analyze the GeV $\gamma$-ray data obtained with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard {\it the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope} for the source region. We are able to remove the pulsar's emission from the region from timing analysis, and find that the region is rather clean without possible GeV $\gamma$-ray emission present as the counterpart to the TeV source. By comparing this pulsar to Geminga and considering the spectral feature of the TeV source, we argue that it is likely the TeV halo powered by the pulsar.