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Low Mass X-Ray Binaries in the Inner Galaxy: Implications for Millisecond Pulsars and the GeV Excess
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena · Submitted 10 Jan 2017
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim From this comparison, we conclude that only up to $\sim$4-23% of the observed gamma-ray excess is likely to originate from MSPs.
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The abstract, sentence by sentence
If millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are responsible for the excess gamma-ray emission observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, the same region should also contain a large population of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). In this study, we compile and utilize a sizable catalog of LMXBs observed in the the Milky Way's globular cluster system and in the Inner Galaxy, as well as the gamma-ray emission observed from globular clusters, to estimate the flux of gamma rays predicted from MSPs in the Inner Galaxy. From this comparison, we conclude that only up to $\sim$4-23% of the observed gamma-ray excess is likely to originate from MSPs. This result is consistent with, and more robust than, previous estimates which utilized smaller samples of both globular clusters and LMXBs. If MSPs had been responsible for the entirety of the observed excess, INTEGRAL should have detected $\sim$$10^3$ LMXBs from within a $10^{\circ}$ radius around the Galactic Center, whereas only 42 LMXBs (and 46 additional LMXB candidates) have been observed.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | If millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are responsible for the excess gamma-ray emission observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, the same region should also contain a large population of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). | background 0.97 | 0.06 | 0.05 | hedged possibility 0.53 |
| s1 | In this study, we compile and utilize a sizable catalog of LMXBs observed in the the Milky Way's globular cluster system and in the Inner Galaxy, as well as the gamma-ray emission observed from globular clusters, to estimate the flux of gamma rays predicted from MSPs in the Inner Galaxy. | method 0.72 | 0.96 | 0.04 | asserted 0.97 |
| s2 | From this comparison, we conclude that only up to $\sim$4-23% of the observed gamma-ray excess is likely to originate from MSPs. | result 0.99 | 0.94 | 0.93 | hedged possibility 0.89 |
| s3 | This result is consistent with, and more robust than, previous estimates which utilized smaller samples of both globular clusters and LMXBs. | interpretation 0.91 | 0.53 | 0.06 | asserted 0.51 |
| s4 | If MSPs had been responsible for the entirety of the observed excess, INTEGRAL should have detected $\sim$$10^3$ LMXBs from within a $10^{\circ}$ radius around the Galactic Center, whereas only 42 LMXBs (and 46 additional LMXB candidates) have been observed. | result 0.60 | 0.66 | 0.11 | asserted 0.71 |
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The paper
Original abstract
If millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are responsible for the excess gamma-ray emission observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, the same region should also contain a large population of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). In this study, we compile and utilize a sizable catalog of LMXBs observed in the the Milky Way's globular cluster system and in the Inner Galaxy, as well as the gamma-ray emission observed from globular clusters, to estimate the flux of gamma rays predicted from MSPs in the Inner Galaxy. From this comparison, we conclude that only up to $\sim$4-23% of the observed gamma-ray excess is likely to originate from MSPs. This result is consistent with, and more robust than, previous estimates which utilized smaller samples of both globular clusters and LMXBs. If MSPs had been responsible for the entirety of the observed excess, INTEGRAL should have detected $\sim$$10^3$ LMXBs from within a $10^{\circ}$ radius around the Galactic Center, whereas only 42 LMXBs (and 46 additional LMXB candidates) have been observed.
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References
How the literature uses it
23 arXiv papers cite this in 25 sentences
Papers whose main result relates to this one's
States a conflicting result 1 paper
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We conclude that the MSP model can explain the Galactic center $\gamma$-ray excess self-consistently, satisfying all the current observational constraints.
Millisecond pulsar interpretation of the Galactic center gamma-ray excess · 0.95
Papers citing it · 18 sentences without a confident label
Uses its data or values 1 paper
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Given that no direct detection signals have appeared [ref] , no pulsars have been found near the Galactic Center [ref] , and far too few low-mass X-ray binaries have been found in the Inner Galaxy [ref] , we can use this information to calculate new posterior probabilities, obtaining $P(T_DM|D) ∼0.65$ and $P(T_pulsars|D) ∼0.35$.
What Makes A Discovery · The Application of the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess · 0.94
Cites it as support 2 papers
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Now, while pulsars are a good candidate for the excess, we still haven't seen any of the pulsars that are contributing GCE (if they are), which is argued to be surprising given the number of low-mass X-ray binaries observed in the GC [ref] .
Indirect Detection of Dark Matter in the Galaxy · GeV Excess · 0.96
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For instance, if a substantial population of these objects were present, it would imply a notable increase in low-mass X-ray binaries compared to observed numbers [ref] .
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Cites it as background 4 papers
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At this time, the leading astrophysical interpretation of this observation is that it is generated by a large population of unresolved and centrally located millisecond pulsars [ref] .
Millisecond Pulsars, TeV Halos, and Implications For The Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess · TeV Halos and the Galactic Center GeV Excess · 0.89
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A leading alternative astrophysical explanation is that the excess comes from an unresolved population of millisecond pulsars or other astrophysical sources [ref] , although arguments against the pulsar hypothesis have been presented [ref] .
Pseudo-Goldstone dark matter confronts cosmic ray and collider anomalies · Introduction · 0.90
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The general theme behind these studies is to devise a luminosity function to fit the observed , based on minimal assumptions [ref] or astrophysics, e.g. assuming luminosity functions identical to those from known in globular clusters [ref] , asserting that accretion-induced collapse is responsible for creating a population [ref] , or allowing emissions from low-mass X-ray binaries to compose the [ref] .
Probing the pulsar explanation of the Galactic-Center GeV excess using continuous gravitational-wave searches · Introduction · 0.93
What it cites · 72 sentences without a confident label
Uses the method or tool of 2 papers
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In analyzing the publicly available Fermi-LAT data, we have followed the same procedure as described in Ref. [ref] , except here we have adopted a MSP-like spectral shape [ref] :
A New Determination of the Spectra and Luminosity Function of Gamma-Ray Millisecond Pulsars · Gamma-Ray Emission and LMXBs in Globular Clusters · 0.98
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In analyzing the publicly available Fermi-LAT data, we have followed the same procedure as described in Ref. [ref] , except here we have adopted a MSP-like spectral shape [ref] :
The Gamma-Ray Pulsar Population of Globular Clusters: Implications for the GeV Excess · Gamma-Ray Emission and LMXBs in Globular Clusters · 0.98
Uses data or values from 7 papers
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In Table [ref], we list the 22 Milky Way globular clusters with $Γ_e > 0.5$ [ref] , as well as their distances [ref] and gamma-ray fluxes as measured by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope.
Stellar Encounter Rate in Galactic Globular Clusters · Gamma-Ray Emission and LMXBs in Globular Clusters · 0.99
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To compile this list, we begin with the 18 (non-quiescent) sources listed in Table 5 of Ref. [ref] , which contains all such LMXBs found in globular clusters, published as of 2014.
Discovery of the Third Transient X-ray Binary in the Galactic Globular Cluster Terzan 5 · Gamma-Ray Emission and LMXBs in Globular Clusters · 0.95
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For example, Ref. [ref] calculates that the X-ray emissivity of a given LMXB remains constant for about 1.5 Gyrs after formation, and then declines with an e-folding timescale of roughly 1.5 Gyrs (see also, Ref. [ref] ).
X-ray Binary Evolution Across Cosmic Time · Luminosity Function Evolution? · 0.86
Compares with 1 paper
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We note that this result is consistent with that presented previously in Ref. [ref] , but is more robust and has much smaller error bars due to the larger number of sources included in this analysis.
Challenges in Explaining the Galactic Center Gamma-Ray Excess with Millisecond Pulsars · Constraints on MSPs in the Inner Galaxy · 0.84
Cites as support 1 paper
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In order for MSPs from disrupted globular clusters to produce the total luminosity of the gamma-ray excess, the necessary mass of the central stellar cluster would have to drastically exceed observations [ref] .
The Gamma-Ray Pulsar Population of Globular Clusters: Implications for the GeV Excess · Introduction · 0.98
Cites as background 24 papers
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Although dark matter interpretations of this signal have generated a great deal of interest (see, for example, Refs. [ref] ), astrophysical origins for this emission have also been proposed.
Gamma ray emission in Fermi bubbles and Higgs portal dark matter · Introduction · 0.97
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Although dark matter interpretations of this signal have generated a great deal of interest (see, for example, Refs. [ref] ), astrophysical origins for this emission have also been proposed.
Extended gamma-ray emission from Coy Dark Matter · Introduction · 0.97
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Although dark matter interpretations of this signal have generated a great deal of interest (see, for example, Refs. [ref] ), astrophysical origins for this emission have also been proposed.
The Effective Hooperon · Introduction · 0.97
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