Follow-up Analysis to Geminga¿s Contribution to the Local Positron Excess with the HAWC gamma-ray Observatory Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • © Copyright owned by the author(s).Two cosmic-ray experiments, PAMELA and AMS-02, measured an abnormal positron excess above 10 GeV. This excess is well understood, but it has been considered direct evidence of dark matter. However, this excess could be produced by nearby pulsars too. The HAWC collaboration previously studied the extended gamma-ray emission of two nearby pulsars, Geminga and PSR B0656+14, but found no significant contribution to this excess from these pulsars. The previous study of HAWC led to the reinterpretation of our result and initiated the concept of inverse Compton (IC) halos. Fitting a new halo model and 1343 days of data from the HAWC gamma-ray observatory may better constrain the contribution of these pulsars to the positron excess. This halo model utilizes 3D templates of gamma-ray emission from electron IC interactions to fit the diffusion coefficient and electron injection spectral index. This model can further help to study the energy-dependent diffusion and incorporate anisotropic diffusion with the proper motion of the pulsar.

publication date

  • March 18, 2022