TeV cosmic-ray electrons from millisecond pulsars
Abstract
Recent γ-ray observations by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope suggest that the γ-ray millisecond pulsar (MSP) population is separated into two subclasses with respect to pair multiplicity. Here, we calculate the cosmic-ray electron/positron spectra from MSPs. Based on the assumption of equipartition in the pulsar-wind region, the typical energy of electrons/positrons ejected by an MSP with pair multiplicity of the order of unity is ~50 TeV. In this case, we find that a large peak in the 10-50 TeV energy range would be observed in the cosmic-ray electron/positron spectrum. Even if the fraction of pair-starved MSPs is 10%, a large peak would be detectable with future missions such as CALET and CTA.
- Publication:
-
Neutron Stars and Pulsars: Challenges and Opportunities after 80 years
- Pub Date:
- March 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S1743921312024350
- Bibcode:
- 2013IAUS..291..419K
- Keywords:
-
- stars: neutron;
- cosmic rays