How can I de-compress a source file on my basic MacBookAir (macOS Sierra Version 10.12.2)
You can find out the type of find using the file command in Terminal. In this case we get:

# file 1610.01410v2
1610.01410v2: POSIX tar archive (GNU)


So, you can open it up using tar, from the terminal:

tar xvf 1610.01410v2
x defectfcn.eps
x sepvol2ment.tex


Or, just rename it to 1610.01410v2.tar and let the Finder handle it.