XIPE the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer and new forthcoming opportunities for polarimetry in X-rays
by
Paolo Soffitta(IAPS/INAF, Rome)
→
Europe/Stockholm
A5:1003
A5:1003
Description
X-ray polarimetry allows for answering, in a novel way, to
questions related to the acceleration phenomena in PWNe,
Supernovae and Blazars, to the transport of radiation in plasma
embedded in a strong magnetic field like in pulsating X-ray
binaries, to questions related to the scattering in a-spherical
geometries, like in AGNs and in the molecular clouds located in
the galactic center region and, finally, to questions of
fundamental physics. Since the dawn of X-ray astronomy it has been
clear the value of polarimetry in this energy range but the
available techniques have always been the major limitation. Modern
photoelectric X-ray polarimeters, based on the Gas Pixel Detector
(GPD) technologies, overcame these limitations allowing for a
sensitive measurement on hundreds of sources. Two forthcoming
missions exploit the GPD technology: XIPE (the X-ray Imaging
Polarimetry Explorer) now in the study phase for ESA and IXPE (the
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) now in phase A study for NASA
in competition with another polarimetry mission with an
alternative technology. XIPE will be operated as a conventional
X-ray observatory but providing polarimetry simultaneously to the
usual imaging, temporal and spectral information. This is made
possible by its unique payload configuration consisting of three
GPDs at the focus of three large, albeit low-weight, X-ray
telescopes and fitting in the Vega launcher. In this talk I will
review the major aspects involved with this kind of measurement,
the scientific targets, the mission profile and payload of
upcoming opportunities.
