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Polarized x-rays from a magnetar
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abstract
We report on the first detection of linearly polarized x-ray emission from an ultra-magnetized neutron star with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). The IXPE 35 observations of the anomalous x-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61 reveal a linear polarization degree of $(12\pm 1)\%$ throughout the IXPE 2--8 keV band. We detect a substantial variation of the polarization with energy: the degree is $(14\pm 1)\%$ at 2--4 keV and $(41\pm 7)\%$ at 5.5--8 keV, while it drops below the instrumental sensitivity around 4--5 keV, where the polarization angle swings by $\sim 90^\circ$. The IXPE observations give us completely new information about the properties of the neutron star surface and magnetosphere and lend further support to the presence of the quantum mechanical effect of vacuum birefringence.
Forward citations
Cited by 2 Pith papers
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Proof of Concept Measurements of Laterally Graded Multilayers for Soft X-ray Spectropolarimetry
Cr/Sc and W/B4C laterally graded multilayer mirrors modulate soft X-ray reflection with polarization angle, showing ~100% modulation at Brewster angle and ~80% at 30° incidence.
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Physics of Strong Magnetism with eXTP
The eXTP mission's planned instruments would enable more sensitive X-ray polarization and timing observations of magnetars and accreting pulsars, potentially testing vacuum birefringence and probing magnetic field structures.
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