Journal
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Volume 370, Issue 2, Pages 468-478Publisher
EDP SCIENCES S A
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20010239
Keywords
gamma-rays : observations; gamma-rays : theory; ISM : supernova remnants; black holes physics
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We present a study of 40 low-latitude unidentified 3EG gamma-ray sources which were found to be not positionally coincident with any known class of potential gamma-ray emitters in the Galaxy (Romero et al. 1999). We have performed a variability analysis which reveals that many of these 40 sources are variable. These sources have in addition, a steep mean value of the gamma-ray spectral index, < Gamma > = 2.41 +/- 0.2, which, combined with the high level of variability. seems to rule out a pulsar origin. The positional coincidences with uncatalogued candidates to supernova remnants were also studied. Only 7 sources in the sample are spatially coincident with these candidates, a result that is shown to be consistent with the expected level of pure chance association. A complementary search for weak radio counterparts was also conducted and the results are presented as an extensive table containing all significant point-like radio sources within the 40 EGRET fields. Mie argue that in order to produce the high variability, steep gamma-ray spectra, and absence of strong radio counterparts observed in some of the: gamma-ray sources of our sample. a new class of objects should be postulated, and we analyze a visible candidate.
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