Speaker
Description
Gamma-ray binaries, systems containing interacting compact objects whose radiative output is dominated by gamma-ray emission, are evolutionary precursors of high-mass X-ray binaries, and tens of these objects had been predicted to exist in our Galaxy. We have been searching for new members of this class via the detection of periodic modulation of LAT light curves, with extensive multi-wavelength followup. After our early discovery of 1FGL J1018.6-5856, no additional source had been found until our identification of LMC P3 as another binary, the first gamma-ray binary outside the Milky Way. We present our search techniques, illustrated by the LMC P3 discovery, discuss the implications for the population of gamma-ray binaries and possible future discoveries, and describe our continued observations of the known binaries to better understand their properties and astrophysics.
