MULTIWAVELENGTH PROPERTIES OF γ-RAY LOUD BINARY SYSTEMS

Gamma-ray-loud binary systems are a newly identified class of X-ray binaries detected up to TeV energies. Three such systems — PSR B1259–63, LS 5039 and LSI +61 303 — have been firmly detected as persistent or regularly variable TeV γ-ray emitters. The origin of the high-energy activity of these sources is not clear. In this paper we review the multiwavelength properties of these systems and discuss their similarities and peculiarities.