TeV Gamma Rays from Geminga and the Origin of the GeV Positron Excess

Abstract

The Geminga pulsar has long been one of the most intriguing MeV-GeV gamma-ray point sources. We examine the implications of the recent Milagro detection of extended, multi-TeV gamma-ray emission from Geminga, finding that this reveals the existence of an ancient, powerful cosmic-ray accelerator that can plausibly account for the multi-GeV positron excess that has evaded explanation. We explore a number of testable predictions for gamma-ray and electron/positron experiments (up to ~100 TeV) that can confirm the first "direct" detection of a cosmic-ray source.

4 pages and 3 figures; Minor revisions, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

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• Launch of the Space experiment PAMELA
• Search for Point Sources of High Energy Neutrinos with Final Data from AMANDA-II
• Dissecting the Cygnus Region with TeV Gamma Rays and Neutrinos
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