A photoelectric polarimeter for XEUS: a new window in x-ray sky

Ronaldo Bellazzini; Luca Baldini; Francesco Bitti; Alessandro Brez; Francesco Cavalca; Luca Latronico; Marco Maria Massai; Nicola Omodei; Michele Pinchera; Carmelo Sgro'; Gloria Spandre; Enrico Costa; Paolo Soffitta; Giuseppe Di Persio; Marco Feroci; Fabio Muleri; Luigi Pacciani; Alda Rubini; Ennio Morelli; Giorgio Matt; Giuseppe Cesare Perola

doi:10.1117/12.671693

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A photoelectric polarimeter for XEUS: a new window in x-ray sky

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Abstract

XEUS is a large area telescope aiming to rise X-ray Astronomy to the level of Optical Astronomy in terms of collecting areas. It will be based on two satellites, locked on a formation flight, one with the optics, one with the focal plane. The present design of the focal plane foresees, as an auxiliary instrument, the inclusion of a Polarimeter based on a Micropattern Chamber. We show how such a device is capable to solve open problems on many classes of High Energy Astrophysics objects and to use X-ray sources as a laboratory for a substantial progress on Fundamental Physics.

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Ronaldo Bellazzini, Luca Baldini, Francesco Bitti, Alessandro Brez, Francesco Cavalca, Luca Latronico, Marco Maria Massai, Nicola Omodei, Michele Pinchera, Carmelo Sgro', Gloria Spandre, Enrico Costa, Paolo Soffitta, Giuseppe Di Persio, Marco Feroci, Fabio Muleri, Luigi Pacciani, Alda Rubini, Ennio Morelli, Giorgio Matt, Giuseppe Cesare Perola. 2006-09-20. A photoelectric polarimeter for XEUS: a new window in x-ray sky. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671693

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