An imaging X-ray polarimeter for the study of galactic andextragalactic X-ray sources

摘要

Technical progress in X-ray optics and in polarization-sensitive X-ray detectors, which our groups pioneered, enables a scientifically powerful, dedicated space mission for imaging X-ray polarimetry. This mission is sufficiently sensitive to measure X-ray (linear) polarization for a broad range of cosmic sources-primarily those involving neutron stars, stellar black holes, and supermassive black holes (active galactic nuclei). We describe the technical basis, the mission concept, and the physical and astrophysical questions such a mission would address.