The high-energy gamma-ray light curve of PSR B1259 -63

Abstract

The high-energy gamma-ray light curve of the binary system PSR B1259 -63, is computed using the approach that successfully predicted the spectrum at periastron. The simultaneous INTEGRAL and H.E.S.S. spectra taken 16 days after periastron currently permit both a model with dominant radiative losses, high pulsar wind Lorentz factor and modest efficiency as well as one with dominant adiabatic losses, a slower wind and higher efficiency. In this paper we shown how the long-term light curve may help to lift this degeneracy.

4 pages, to appear in proceedings of: Astrophysical Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation, Torun (2005)