Polarized thermal emission from X-ray dim isolated neutron stars: the case of RX J1856.5−3754

Caniulef, Denis González; Zane, S.; Taverna, Roberto; Turolla, R.; Wu, Kinwah

doi:10.1093/mnras/stw804

Cited by 45 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 56 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our primary target for such an observation is RX J1856.4-3754, the brightest isolated NS in the ROSAT all sky catalog. A birefringence model of this source gave a prediction in the soft x-ray band of ≳90% polarization, 33 validated by an optical polarization detection of 16%. 34 The MDP for the REDSoX polarimeter is 59%, sufficient to test the model.…”

mentioning

confidence: 74%

Design of a broadband soft x-ray polarimeter

Marshall¹,

Günther²,

Heilmann³

et al. 2018

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We describe an optical design and possible implementation of a broadband soft x-ray polarimeter. Our arrangement of gratings is designed optimally for the purpose of polarimetry with broadband focusing optics by matching the dispersion of the spectrometer channels to laterally graded multilayers (LGMLs). The system can achieve polarization modulation factors over 90%. We implement this design using a single optical system by dividing the entrance aperture into six sectors; high efficiency, blazed gratings from opposite sectors are oriented to disperse to a common LGML forming three channels covering the wavelength range from 35 to 75 Å (165 to 350 eV). The grating dispersions and LGML position angles for each channel are 120 deg to each other. CCD detectors then measure the intensities of the dispersed spectra after reflection and polarizing by the LGMLs, giving the three Stokes parameters needed to determine a source's linear polarization fraction and orientation. The design can be extended to higher energies as LGMLs are developed further. We describe examples of the potential scientific return from instruments based on this design.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 74%

Design of a broadband soft x-ray polarimeter

Marshall¹,

Günther²,

Heilmann³

et al. 2018

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The nascent field of broadband X-ray polarimetry offers revolutionary new ways to investigate the physics and geometry of magnetars and other, possibly related, classes of INSs: the X-ray Dim Isolated Neutron Stars (XDINSs) and the Central Compact Objects (CCOs), in particular [49][50][51]. These sources are radio-silent so that polarization measurements are possible only in X-rays (in a handful of cases maybe also in the optical, [52]).…”

Section: Magnetarsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A polarized view of the hot and violent universe

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

X-ray polarimetry has long been considered the ‘holy grail’ of X-ray astronomy. Fortunately, after a silence of more than 40 years, the field is now rejuvenating. In fact, an X-ray polarimeter onboard a Cube-sat nano-satellite has been recently successfully operated. IXPE, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, will be launched in 2021 while eXTP, containing a larger version of IXPE, is expected to be launched in 2027. Although at present it is difficult to predict the discoveries that, given their exploratory nature, IXPE and eXTP will obtain, the path for a follow-up mission can already be envisaged. In this paper we describe the scientific goals of such a follow-up mission, and present a medium-size mission profile that can accomplish this task.

show abstract

“…5 in [1]. However, in what follows, we want to approach quantitatively this analysis, relying only on the "isotropic blackbody" model as presented in [1] and further discussed in [23]. The experimental result is a "3-σ " one, meaning that, at ≈ 99% CL, the polarization degree is larger than zero.…”

Section: The Measured Polarization Compared To Theoretical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A complete analysis requires taking into account light bending due to the curved spacetime, non-uniform surface temperature distributions and more complicated magnetic fields, among others [23]. Even if our calculations, briefly summarized in Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A note on polarized light from magnetars

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In a recent paper it is claimed that vacuum birefringence has been experimentally observed for the first time by measuring the degree of polarization of visible light from a magnetar candidate, a neutron star with a magnetic field presumably as large as B ∼ 10 13 G. The role of such a strong magnetic field is twofold. First, the surface of the star emits, at each point, polarized light with linear polarization correlated with the orientation of the magnetic field. Depending on the relative orientation of the magnetic axis of the star with the direction to the distant observer, a certain degree of polarization should be visible. Second, the strong magnetic field in the vacuum surrounding the star could enhance the effective degree of polarization observed: vacuum birefringence. We compare experimental data and theoretical expectations concluding that the conditions to support a claim of strong evidence of vacuum birefringence effects are not met.

show abstract

Polarized thermal emission from X-ray dim isolated neutron stars: the case of RX J1856.5−3754

Cited by 45 publications

References 56 publications

Design of a broadband soft x-ray polarimeter

Design of a broadband soft x-ray polarimeter

A polarized view of the hot and violent universe

A note on polarized light from magnetars

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About