This paper reports the first detection of polarization in the X-rays for atoll-source 4U 1820-303, obtained with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at 99.999% confidence level (CL). Simultaneous polarimetric measurements were also performed in the radio with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The IXPE observations of 4U 1820-303 were coordinated with Swift X-ray Telescope, Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array aiming to obtain an accurate X-ray spectral model covering a broad energy interval. The source shows a significant polarization above 4 keV, with a polarization degree of 2.0% & PLUSMN; 0.5% and a polarization angle of -55 & DEG; & PLUSMN; 7 & DEG; in the 4-7 keV energy range, and a polarization degree of 10% & PLUSMN; 2% and a polarization angle of -67 & DEG; & PLUSMN; 7 & DEG; in the 7-8 keV energy bin. This polarization also shows a clear energy trend with polarization degree increasing with energy and a hint for a position-angle change of & SIME;90 & DEG; at 96% CL around 4 keV. The spectro-polarimetric fit indicates that the accretion disk is polarized orthogonally to the hard spectral component, which is presumably produced in the boundary/spreading layer. We do not detect linear polarization from the radio counterpart, with a 3 & sigma; upper limit of 50% at 7.25 GHz.

Di Marco, A., La Monaca, F., Poutanen, J., Russell, T.D., Anitra, A., Farinelli, R., et al. (2023). First Detection of X-Ray Polarization from the Accreting Neutron Star 4U 1820−303. THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, 953(2), 22 [10.3847/2041-8213/acec6e].

First Detection of X-Ray Polarization from the Accreting Neutron Star 4U 1820−303

Anitra, Alessio;Di Salvo, Tiziana;Iaria, Rosario;
2023-08-18

Abstract

This paper reports the first detection of polarization in the X-rays for atoll-source 4U 1820-303, obtained with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at 99.999% confidence level (CL). Simultaneous polarimetric measurements were also performed in the radio with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The IXPE observations of 4U 1820-303 were coordinated with Swift X-ray Telescope, Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array aiming to obtain an accurate X-ray spectral model covering a broad energy interval. The source shows a significant polarization above 4 keV, with a polarization degree of 2.0% & PLUSMN; 0.5% and a polarization angle of -55 & DEG; & PLUSMN; 7 & DEG; in the 4-7 keV energy range, and a polarization degree of 10% & PLUSMN; 2% and a polarization angle of -67 & DEG; & PLUSMN; 7 & DEG; in the 7-8 keV energy bin. This polarization also shows a clear energy trend with polarization degree increasing with energy and a hint for a position-angle change of & SIME;90 & DEG; at 96% CL around 4 keV. The spectro-polarimetric fit indicates that the accretion disk is polarized orthogonally to the hard spectral component, which is presumably produced in the boundary/spreading layer. We do not detect linear polarization from the radio counterpart, with a 3 & sigma; upper limit of 50% at 7.25 GHz.
18-ago-2023
Settore PHYS-05/A - Astrofisica, cosmologia e scienza dello spazio
Di Marco, A., La Monaca, F., Poutanen, J., Russell, T.D., Anitra, A., Farinelli, R., et al. (2023). First Detection of X-Ray Polarization from the Accreting Neutron Star 4U 1820−303. THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, 953(2), 22 [10.3847/2041-8213/acec6e].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/627774
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