We argue that measurements of X-ray polarization using the recently launched Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer will answer many open questions about magnetars in particular the physical state of their surfaces, whether vacuum birefringence exists, and the nature of the hard X-ray emission from these objects. We outline the capabilities of the instrument, specific models and the results of simulations for the magnetar 4U~0142+61.
@article{arxiv.2203.09066,
title = {X-ray Polarization at the Crossroads},
author = {Jeremy Heyl and Ilaria Caiazzo and Denis González-Caniulef},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.09066},
year = {2023}
}
Comments
12 pages, 7 figures, Neutron Star Astrophysics at the Crossroads: Magnetars and the Multimessenger Revolution, Proceedings IAU Symposium No. 363, 2022, E. Troja & M. Baring, eds