Discovery of Gamma-Ray Orbital Modulation in the Black Widow PSR J1311-3430

Abstract

We report our discovery of orbitally modulated $\gamma$-ray emission from the black widow system PSR J1311-3430. We analyze the \textit{Fermi} Large Area Telescope data during the offpulse phase interval of the pulsar, and find the orbital modulation signal at a $\sim$3$\sigma$ confidence level. Further spectral analysis shows no significant differences for the spectra obtained during the bright and faint orbital phase ranges. A simple sinusoid-like function can describe the modulation. Given these properties, we suggest that the intrabinary $\gamma$-ray emission arises from the region close to the companion and the modulation is caused by the occultation of the emitting region by the companion, similar to that is seen in the transitional millisecond pulsar binary (MSP) PSR J1023+0038. Considering the X-ray detection of intrabinary shock emission from eclipsing MSP binaries recently reported, this discovery further suggests the general existence of intrabinary $\gamma$-ray emission from them.

arXiv comment5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

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• Keck Spectroscopy of Millisecond Pulsar J2215+5135: a Moderate-M_NS, High-Inclination Binary
• High-Energy Variability of PSR J1311-3430
• Signatures of Intra-binary shock emission in the black widow pulsar binary PSR J2241-5236
• Gamma-ray Eclipses and Orbital Modulation Transitions in the Candidate Redback 4FGL J1702.7-5655
• A gamma-ray periodic modulation in Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae