Possible TeV source candidates among the unidentified EGRET sources

Abstract

We study the γ-ray emission from the pulsar magnetosphere based on outer gap models, and the TeV radiation from pulsar wind nebulae through inverse Compton scattering using a one-zone model. We have shown previously that GeV radiation from the magnetosphere of mature pulsars with ages of ∼105-106 yr can contribute to the high-latitude unidentified Energetic Gamma Ray Experiment Telescope (EGRET) sources. We carry out Monte Carlo simulations of γ-ray pulsars in the Galaxy and the Gould Belt, assuming values for the pulsar birth rate, initial position, proper motion velocity, period, and magnetic field distribution and evolution based on observational statistics. We select from the simulation a sample of mature pulsars in the Galactic plane (|b| ≤ 5°) and a sample at high latitudes (|b| > 5°) which could be detected by EGRET. We calculate the TeV fluxes from the pulsar wind nebulae of our simulated sample produced through inverse Compton scattering by relativistic electrons on the cosmic microwave background and synchrotron seed photons. The predicted fluxes are consistent with the present observational constraints. We suggest that strong EGRET sources may be potential TeV source candidates for present and future ground-based TeV telescopes. © 2005 RAS.