Ref HAL: hal-00430393_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0906.0991
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/701/2/1673
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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48 citations
Abstract:

The LAT instrument on the Fermi mission will reveal the rich spectral and temporal gamma-ray burst phenomena in the > 100 MeV band. The synergy with Fermi's GBM detectors will link these observations to those in the well explored 10-1000 keV range; the addition of the > 100 MeV band observations will resolve theoretical uncertainties about burst emission in both the prompt and afterglow phases. Trigger algorithms will be applied to the LAT data both onboard the spacecraft and on the ground. The sensitivity of these triggers will differ because of the available computing resources onboard and on the ground. Here we present the LAT's burst detection methodologies and the instrument's GRB capabilities.

Ref HAL: in2p3-00429043_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0908.1171
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/703/2/1249
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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94 citations
Abstract:

Observations by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the \textit{Fermi} mission of diffuse $\gamma$-rays in a mid-latitude region in the third quadrant (Galactic longitude $l$ from $200\arcdeg$ to $260\arcdeg$ and latitude $| b |$ from $22\arcdeg$ to $60\arcdeg$) are reported. The region contains no known large molecular cloud and most of the atomic hydrogen is within 1 kpc of the solar system. The contributions of $\gamma$-ray point sources and inverse Compton scattering are estimated and subtracted. The residual $\gamma$-ray intensity exhibits a linear correlation with the atomic gas column density in energy from 100 MeV to 10 GeV. The measured integrated $\gamma$-ray emissivity is $(1.63 \pm 0.05) \times 10^{-26} {\rm photons s^{-1} sr^{-1} H\mathchar`-atom^{-1}}$ and $(0.66 \pm 0.02) \times 10^{-26} {\rm photons s^{-1} sr^{-1} H\mathchar`-atom^{-1}}$ above 100 MeV and above 300 MeV, respectively, with additional systematic error of $\sim 10%$. The differential emissivity in 100 MeV--10 GeV agrees with calculations based on cosmic ray spectra consistent with those directly measured, at the 10% level. The results obtained indicate that cosmic ray nuclei spectra within 1 kpc from the solar system in regions studied are close to the local interstellar spectra inferred from direct measurements at the Earth within $\sim 10%$.

Ref HAL: in2p3-00414457_v1
DOI: 10.1126/SCIENCE.1177023
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69 citations
Abstract:

We report the detection of gamma-ray emissions above 200 megaelectron volts at a significance level of 17σ from the globular cluster 47 Tucanae, using data obtained with the Large Area Telescope onboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Globular clusters are expected to emit gamma rays because of the large populations of millisecond pulsars that they contain. The spectral shape of 47 Tucanae is consistent with gamma-ray emission from a population of millisecond pulsars. The observed gamma-ray luminosity implies an upper limit of 60 millisecond pulsars present in 47 Tucanae.

Ref HAL: in2p3-00410616_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0907.4307
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/701/2/L123
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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115 citations
Abstract:

This Letter presents the first results from the observations of LS I +61°303 using Large Area Telescope data from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope between 2008 August and 2009 March. Our results indicate variability that is consistent with the binary period, with the emission being modulated at 26.6 ± 0.5 days. This constitutes the first detection of orbital periodicity in high-energy gamma rays (20 MeV-100 GeV, HE). The light curve is characterized by a broad peak after periastron, as well as a smaller peak just before apastron. The spectrum is best represented by a power law with an exponential cutoff, yielding an overall flux above 100 MeV of 0.82 ± 0.03(stat) ± 0.07(syst) 10–6 ph cm–2 s–1, with a cutoff at 6.3 ± 1.1(stat) ± 0.4(syst) GeV and photon index Γ = 2.21 ± 0.04(stat) ± 0.06(syst). There is no significant spectral change with orbital phase. The phase of maximum emission, close to periastron, hints at inverse Compton scattering as the main radiation mechanism. However, previous very high-energy gamma ray (>100 GeV, VHE) observations by MAGIC and VERITAS show peak emission close to apastron. This and the energy cutoff seen with Fermi suggest that the link between HE and VHE gamma rays is nontrivial.

Ref HAL: in2p3-00410517_v1
Ref Arxiv: 0906.1217
DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/699/2/L102
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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27 citations
Abstract:

We report the discovery of γ-ray pulsations (≥0.1 GeV) from the young radio and X-ray pulsar PSR J0205 + 6449 located in the Galactic supernova remnant 3C 58. Data in the γ-ray band were acquired by the Large Area Telescope aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly GLAST), while the radio rotational ephemeris used to fold γ-rays was obtained using both the Green Bank Telescope and the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank. The light curve consists of two peaks separated by 0.49 ± 0.01 ± 0.01 cycles which are aligned with the X-ray peaks. The first γ-ray peak trails the radio pulse by 0.08 ± 0.01 ± 0.01, while its amplitude decreases with increasing energy as for the other γ-ray pulsars. Spectral analysis of the pulsed γ-ray emission suggests a simple power law of index –2.1 ± 0.1 ± 0.2 with an exponential cutoff at 3.0+1.1 –0.7 ± 0.4 GeV. The first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The integral γ-ray photon flux above 0.1 GeV is (13.7 ± 1.4 ± 3.0) × 10–8 cm–2 s–1, which implies for a distance of 3.2 kpc and assuming a broad fan-like beam a luminosity of 8.3 × 1034 erg s–1 and an efficiency η of 0.3%. Finally, we report a 95% upper limit on the flux of 1.7 × 10–8 cm–2 s–1 for off-pulse emission from the object.

Comments: 7 pages, 1 figure

Ref HAL: in2p3-00402863_v1
DOI: 10.1126/science.1176113
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173 citations
Abstract:

Pulsars are born with subsecond spin periods and slow by electromagnetic braking for several tens of millions of years, when detectable radiation ceases. A second life can occur for neutron stars in binary systems. They can acquire mass and angular momentum from their companions, to be spun up to millisecond periods and begin radiating again. We searched Fermi Large Area Telescope data for pulsations from all known millisecond pulsars (MSPs) outside of globular clusters using rotation parameters from radio telescopes. Strong gamma-ray pulsations were detected for eight MSPs. The gamma-ray pulse profiles and spectral properties resemble those of young gamma-ray pulsars. The basic emission mechanism seems to be the same for MSPs and young pulsars, with the emission originating in regions far from the neutron star surface.

Ref HAL: in2p3-00402843_v1
DOI: 10.1126/science.1175558
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223 citations
Abstract:

Pulsars are rapidly rotating, highly magnetized neutron stars emitting radiation across the lectromagnetic spectrum. Although there are more than 1800 known radio pulsars, until recently, only seven were observed to pulse in gamma rays and these were all discovered at other wavelengths. The Fermi Large Area Telescope makes it possible to pinpoint neutron stars through their gamma-ray pulsations. We report the detection of 16 gamma-ray pulsars in blind frequency searches using the LAT. Most of these pulsars are coincident with previously unidentified gamma-ray sources, and many are associated with supernova remnants. Direct detection of gamma-ray pulsars enables studies of emission mechanisms, population statistics, and the energetics of pulsar wind nebulae and supernova remnants.