Gamma-ray photons from young pulsars allow the deepest insight into the
properties and interactions of high-energy particles with magnetic and photon
fields in a pulsar magnetosphere. Measurements with the Compton Gamma-Ray
Observatory have led to the detection of nearly ten gamma-ray pulsars. Although
quite a variety of individual signatures is found for these pulsars, some
general characteristics can be summarized: (1) the gamma-ray lightcurves of
most high-energy pulsars show two major peaks with the pulsed emission covering
more than 50% of the rotation, i.e. a wide beam of emission; (2) the gamma-ray
spectra of pulsars are hard (power law index less than 2), often with a
luminosity maximum around 1 GeV. A spectral cutoff above several GeV is found;
(3) the spectra vary with rotational phase indicating different sites of
emission; and (4) the gamma-luminosity scales with the particle flux from the
open regions of the magnetosphere (Goldreich-Julian current).Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables. To appear in the Proceedings of the
270. WE-Heraeus Seminar on Neutron Stars, Pulsars and Supernova Remnants,
Jan. 21-25, 2002, Physikzentrum Bad Honnef, eds W. Becker, H. Lesch & J.
Truemper. Proceedings are available as MPE-Report 27
