Determining the nature of the unassociated Fermi-LAT gamma-ray sources
Abstract
Fermi opened new horizons in gamma-ray astronomy, with 1873 sources detected by the LAT instrument in the first 2 years. However, <10% of them are identified, mostly as gamma-ray pulsars or Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), while ~60% are only associated with potential gamma-ray emitters matched in object catalogues. The remaining ~30% have not even a potential association. The nature of these sources is unknown and can only be investigated through multi-wavelength observations. Here, we propose to map the error boxes of selected LAT sources with XMM and the VLT. From the classification of their candidate X-ray counterparts, based on their X-ray and optical properties, we will then single out those which are most likely gamma-ray emitters and close the identification loop.
- Publication:
-
XMM-Newton Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012xmm..prop...24M
- Keywords:
-
- White Dwarf Binaries;
- Neutron Star Binaries;
- Cataclysmic Variables;
- ULXs;
- Black Holes;
- 2FGL J1839.0-05;
- 2FGL J2039.8-56