Other
Scientific paper
May 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007aas...20925511h&link_type=abstract
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #255.11; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society,
Other
Scientific paper
Constructing physical models for compact X-ray sources is a goal of many measurements of their spectral and timing properties. Understanding the astrophysical roles of black holes and neutron stars and using them to test questions of fundamental physics are hampered by model uncertainties, so the as-yet unused information of polarization beckons as an arbiter. Polarimeters have recently been proposed for missions of every size, from balloons to Xeus. Thepredictions of polarization for models of the X-rays from stellar black holes, active galactic nuclei, and neutron stars are reviewed. Polarization could identify that emission is from a disk and passes over a black hole in the high soft state and that fluorescent and reflected radiation in a quasar does so also, even tracing flares. It would make a significant contribution to the study of strong gravity. It could determine whether low hard state coronae are the base of an outflow or jet and help determine how much gas is diverted from the black hole. Polarization's diagnostic power for spin and emission region information of both rotation powered and accreting pulsars with strong magnetic fields has long been known and the energy dependent effects of vacuum polarization in thermally emitting neutron stars are well studied. Soft Gamma Repeaters and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars are both now identified as Magnetars with the strongest implied magnetic fields. Polarization could determine the evolution of their apparently shifting field geometry. We compare predictions of current models with what could be measured using different photoelectron tracking detectors behind telescopes suitable for a SMEX and for Constellation X. Time projection chamber detectors have high quantum efficiency compared to imaging gas pixel detectors and would be suitable for studying compact objects. We also consider the relative merits of other types of polarimeters with respect to comparative sensitivity limits.
Black Kevin
Deines-Jones Phil
Hebb Swank Jean
Hill James
Jahoda Keith
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