English

X-Ray Polarimetry

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics 2016-01-11 v3

Abstract

We review the basic principles of X-ray polarimetry and current detector technologies based on the photoelectric effect, Bragg reflection, and Compton scattering. Recent technological advances in high-spatial-resolution gas-filled X-ray detectors have enabled efficient polarimeters exploiting the photoelectric effect that hold great scientific promise for X-ray polarimetry in the 2-10 keV band. Advances in the fabrication of multilayer optics have made feasible the construction of broad-band soft X-ray polarimeters based on Bragg reflection. Developments in scintillator and solid-state hard X-ray detectors facilitate construction of both modular, large area Compton scattering polarimeters and compact devices suitable for use with focusing X-ray telescopes.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1408.5899,
  title  = {X-Ray Polarimetry},
  author = {Philip Kaaret},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1408.5899},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

Preprint of an article to appear in The WSPC Handbook of Astronomical Instrumentation, David Burrows (ed.), copyright World Scientific Publishing Company. 21 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-22T05:39:15.748Z