An X-ray Polarimeter for Constellation-X

K. Jahoda; K. Black; P. Deines-Jones; J. E. Hill; T. Kallman; T. Strohmayer; J. H. Swank

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arXiv · astro-ph/0701090

An X-ray Polarimeter for Constellation-X

K. Jahoda·K. Black·P. Deines-Jones·J. E. Hill·T. Kallman·T. Strohmayer·J. H. Swank

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Abstract

Polarimetry remains a largely unexploited technique in observational X-ray astronomy which could provide insight in the study of the strong gravity and magnetic fields at the core of the Constellation-X observational program. Adding a polarization capability to the Constellation-X instrumentation would be immensely powerful. It would make Constellation the first space observatory to simultaneously measure all astrophysically relevant parameters of source X-ray photons; their position (imaging), energy (spectroscopy), arrival time (timing), and polarization. Astrophysical polarimetry requires sensitive well-calibrated instruments. Many exciting objects are extra-galactic (i.e. faint) and may have small polarization. Recent advances in efficiency and bandpass make it attractive to consider a polarimetry Science Enhancement Package for the Constellation-X mission.

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K. Jahoda, K. Black, P. Deines-Jones, J. E. Hill, T. Kallman, T. Strohmayer, J. H. Swank. 2007-01-04. An X-ray Polarimeter for Constellation-X. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0701090

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