Abstract
HALPERN and Holt1 have recently reported the detection of coherent pulsations with a period of 237 ms from the soft X-ray source 1E0630 +178, which lies in the error box of the γ-ray source known as Geminga (2GC195 + 04). This observation provides compelling evidence that Geminga, an object whose nature has hitherto been mysterious, is an X-ray pulsar. Prompted by this discovery, we have searched the data from EGRET, the Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, for a comparable signal in the γ-radiation from this part of the sky. We now report the detection of pulsed γ-rays, with energy >50MeV, from 1E0630 + 178, confirming the identification of Geminga with this X-ray source. The period derivative, (11.4 ± 1.7) x 10−15ss−1, suggests that Geminga is a nearby, isolated, rotating neutron star with a magnetic field of 1.6 x1012 gauss, a characteristic age of 3 x 105 yr and a spin-down energy loss rate of 3.5 x 1034 erg s−1.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Halpern, J. P. & Holt, S. S. Nature 357, 222–224 (1992).
Kniffen, D. A. et al. Proc. 14th Int. Cosmic Ray Conf. Vol. 1, 100–105 (MPE, Munich, 1975).
Fichtel, C. E. et al. Astrophys. J. 198, 163–182 (1975).
Thompson, D. J. et al. Astrophys. J. 213, 252–262 (1977).
Bennett, K. et al. Astr. Astrophys. 56, 469–471 (1977).
Masnou, J. L. et al. Proc. 17th Int. Cosmic Ray Conf. Vol. 1, 177–180 (CEN Saclay, Paris, 1981).
Hermsen, W. EGRET Science Symp. NASA CP 3071, 161–177 (NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1990).
Spolestra, T. A. Th. & Hermsen, W. Astr. Astrophys. 135, 135–140 (1984).
Bignami, G. F., Caraveo, P. A. & Lamb, R. C. Astrophys. J. 272, L9–L13 (1983).
Bignami, G. F., Caraveo, P. A., Paul, J. A., Salotti, L. & Vigroux, L. Astrophys. J. 319, 358–361 (1987).
Halpern, J. P. & Tytler, D. Astrophys. J. 330, 201–217 (1988).
Hughes, E. G. et al. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. NS-27, 364–369 (1980).
Kanbach, G. et al. Space Sci. Rev. 49, 69–84 (1988).
Kanbach, G. Gamma Ray Observatory Science Workshop Proc. 2-1 to 2-10 (NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, Maryland, 1989).
Mayer-Hasselwander, H. A. et al. Astr. Astrophys. (in the press).
Manchester, R. N. & Taylor, J. H. Astr. J. 86, 1953–1973 (1981).
Daugherty, J. K. & Harding, A. Astrophys. J. 252, 337–347 (1982).
Cheng, K. S., Ho, C. & Ruderman, M. Astrophys. J. 300, 500–521 (1986).
Ruderman, M. & Cheng, K. S. Astrophys. J. 335, 306–318 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bertsch, D., Brazier, K., Fichtel, C. et al. Pulsed high-energy γ-radiation from Geminga (1E0630+178). Nature 357, 306–307 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/357306a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/357306a0
This article is cited by
-
AstroSat-CZTI as a hard X-ray pulsar monitor
Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy (2021)
-
Some highlights of the first four years of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
Frontiers of Physics (2013)
-
The Geminga fraction
Astrophysics and Space Science (2007)
-
The Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Gamma-Ray Sources
Astrophysics and Space Science (2005)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
