X-ray Polarimetry
A New Window in Astrophysics

Presenting detailed papers and broad reviews, this volume provides a complete view of X-ray polarimetry for researchers in astrophysics.

Ronaldo Bellazzini (Edited by), Enrico Costa (Edited by), Giorgio Matt (Edited by), Gianpiero Tagliaferri (Edited by)

9780521191845, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 July 2010

384 pages, 240 b/w illus.
25.4 x 17.9 x 1.9 cm, 0.9 kg

Due to the advent of a new generation of detectors, X-ray polarimetry promises to join X-ray imaging, spectroscopy and timing as one of the main observational techniques in high energy astrophysics. This has renewed interest in the field, and indeed several polarimetric missions have recently been proposed. This volume provides a complete and up-to-date view of the subject for researchers in astrophysics. The contributors discuss the present status and perspectives of instruments, review current theoretical models, and examine future missions. As well as detailed papers, the book contains broad reviews that can be easily understood by astrophysicists new to the field.

1. X-ray polarimetry: historical remarks and other considerations
Part I. Polarimetry Techniques: 2. Scattering polarimetry in high energy astronomy
3. Photoelectric polarimeters
4. Bragg crystal polarimeters
5. X-ray polarimetry with the photon counting pixel detector timepix
6. HE polarized photon interactions with matter: simulations with geant4
7. The GPD as a polarimeter: theory and facts
8. Ideal gas electron multipliers (GEMs) for x-ray polarimeters
9. Broad-band soft x-ray polarimetry
10. Feasibility of x-ray photoelectric polarimeters with large field of view
11. Angular resolution of a photoelectric polarimeter
12. Development of a Thomson x-ray polarimeter
13. Hard x / soft gamma ray polarimetry using a Laue lens
Part II. Polarized Emission in X-ray Sources: 14. Probing strong gravity effects with x-ray polarimetry
15. X-ray polarization from black holes in the thermal state
16. Strong-gravity effects acting on polarization from orbiting spots
17. Polarization of thermal emission from accreting black holes
18. X-ray polarimetry and radio-quiet AGN
19. The soft x-ray polarization in obscured AGN
20. The polarization of complex x-ray sources
21. Polarization of Compton x-rays from jets in AGN
22. Polarization of x-ray lines from galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies
23. Polarization characteristics of rotation-powered pulsars
24. Polarized x-rays from magnetized neutron stars
25. Polarization properties of x-ray millisecond pulsars
26. X-ray polarization signatures of neutron stars
27. Polarization from the oscillating magnetized accretion torus
28. X-ray polarization from accreting white dwarfs and associated systems
29. Polarization of pulsar wind nebulae
30. X-ray polarization of gamma-ray bursts
31. Central engine afterglow from GRBs and the polarization signature
32. GRB afterglow polarimetry. Past, present and future
33. Gamma-ray polarimetry with SPI
34. INTEGRAL/IBIS observations of the Crab Nebula and GRB 041219A
35. Fermi results on the origin of high energy emission in pulsars
36. Diagnostics of the evolution of spiral galaxies in a cluster environment
Part III. Future Missions: 37. Gravity and extreme magnetism SMEX (GEMS)
38. Programs of x-ray polarimetry in Italy
39. A polarimeter for IXO
40. Polarimetry with ASTRO-H soft gamma-ray detector
41. EXIST and its polarization sensitivity
42. PoGOLite: a balloon-borne soft gamma-ray polarimeter
43. Studies of neutron background rejection in the PoGOLite polarimeter
44. Observing polarized x-rays with PoGOLite
45. Pre-flight qualification tests of the PoGOLite detector system
46. The gamma-ray polarimeter experiment (GRAPE) Balloon Payload
47. POLAR: an instrument dedicated to GRB polarization measurement
48. Polarisation detection capability of GRIPS
49. X-ray and y-ray polarimetry small satellite mission polaris
50. GAP aboard the solar powered sail mission
51. Hard x-ray polarimeter for small satellite missions
52. Performance of hard x-ray polarimeter: PHENEX
53. GRB polarimetry with POET
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Astronomy, space & time [PG]