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arXiv · 2203.09066

X-ray Polarization at the Crossroads

Jeremy Heyl·Ilaria Caiazzo·Denis González-Caniulef
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Abstract

We argue that measurements of X-ray polarization using the recently launched Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer will answer many open questions about magnetars in particular the physical state of their surfaces, whether vacuum birefringence exists, and the nature of the hard X-ray emission from these objects. We outline the capabilities of the instrument, specific models and the results of simulations for the magnetar 4U~0142+61.

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Jeremy Heyl, Ilaria Caiazzo, Denis González-Caniulef. 2022-03-17. X-ray Polarization at the Crossroads. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743921322000916

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