Related papers: Optimal Summary Statistics for X-ray Polarization
Numerical simulations offer the unique possibility to forecast the results of surveys and targeted observations that will be performed with next generation instruments like the Square Kilometre Array. In this paper, we investigate for the…
Complete determination of the polarisation state of light requires at least four distinct projective measurements of the associated Stokes vector. Stability of state reconstruction, however, hinges on the condition number $\kappa$ of the…
An event-based maximum likelihood method for handling X-ray polarimetry data is extended to include the effects of background and nonuniform sampling of the possible position angle space. While nonuniform sampling in position angle space…
An easily constructed and operated polarimeter precisely determines the relative Stokes parameters that characterize the polarization of laser light. The polarimeter is calibrated in situ without removing or realigning its optical elements,…
Linearly polarized emission is described, in general, in terms of the Stokes parameters $Q$ and $U$, from which the polarization intensity and polarization angle can be determined. Although the polarization intensity and polarization angle…
We utilize the localization analysis method to precisely determine the light beam positions with the spatial separation beyond the optical diffraction limit. By such a direct spatial measurement, the associated optical setup is built to…
The study of magnetars is of particular relevance since these objects are the only laboratories where the physics in ultra-strong magnetic fields can be directly tested. Until now, spectroscopic and timing measurements at X-ray energies in…
A calibration scheme is presented for improved polarization state measurement of terahertz pulses. In this scheme the polarization response of a two-contact terahertz photoconductive detector is accurately measured, and is used to correct…
We propose a new method for the extraction of Rotation Measure from spectral polarization data. The method is based on maximum likelihood analysis and takes into account the circular nature of the polarization data. The method is unbiased…
X-ray polarisation measurement is a unique tool which may provide crucial information regarding the emission mechanism and the geometry of various astrophysical sources, like neutron stars, accreting black holes, pulsar wind nebulae, AGNs,…
We introduce a simplified form of Stokes operators for quantum optical fields that involve the known concept of binning. Behind polarization analyzer photon numbers (more generally intensities) are measured. If the value obtained in one of…
The integral polarization of spiral galaxies in the radio band has been proposed as a new tracer of the intrinsic galaxy shape that augments lensing shear measurements. We revisit the method of shear estimation in this context. We introduce…
A formalism for two-photon Stokes parameters is introduced to describe the polarization entanglement of photon pairs. This leads to the definition of a degree of two-photon polarization, which describes the extent to which the two photons…
We present a series of numerical models suitable for X-ray polarimetry of accreting systems. Firstly, we provide a spectropolarimetric routine that integrates reflection from inner optically thick walls of a geometrical torus of arbitrary…
Stokes parameters are a standard tool in quantum optics. They involve averaged intensities at exits of polarizers. If the overall measured intensity fluctuates, as e.g. for states with undefined photon numbers, the instances of its…
We have built and tested a compact, low-cost, but very-high-performance astronomical polarimeter based on a continuously rotating half-wave plate and a high-speed imaging detector. The polarimeter is suitable for small telescopes up to ~1 m…
A simple, self-calibrating, rotating-waveplate polarimeter is largely insensitive to light intensity fluctuations and is shown to be useful for determining the Stokes parameters of light. This study shows how to minimize the in situ…
Optical polarimeters are typically calibrated using measurements of stars with known and stable polarization parameters. However, there is a lack of such stars available across the sky. Many of the currently available standards are not…
Polarised neutron scattering is the method of choice to study magnetism in condensed matter. Polarised neutrons are typically very low in flux, and complex experimental configurations further reduce the count rate. Neutron polarisation…
In-orbit experience has shown that soft protons are funneled more efficiently through focusing Wolter-type optics of X-ray observatories than simulations predicted. These protons can degrade the performance of solid-state X-ray detectors…