Discovery of strongly variable X-ray polarization in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary transient XTE J1701-462

0574441 - ASÚ 2024 RIV FR eng J - Journal Article
Cocchi, M. - Gnarini, A. - Fabiani, S. - Dovčiak, Michal - Karas, Vladimír … Total 108 authors
Discovery of strongly variable X-ray polarization in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary transient XTE J1701-462.
Astronomy & Astrophysics. Roč. 674, June (2023), č. článku L10. ISSN 0004-6361. E-ISSN 1432-0746
Institutional support: RVO:67985815
Keywords : accretion disks * polarization * neutron stars
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Impact factor: 6.5, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access

Polarimetric studies of XTE J1701-462 have been expected to improve our understanding of accreting weakly magnetized neutron stars, in particular, the physics and the geometry of the hot inner regions close to the compact object. The IXPE data of two triggered observations were analyzed using time-resolved spectroscopic and polarimetric techniques, following the source along its Z-track of the color-color diagram. During the first pointing on 2022 September 29, an average 2-8 keV polarization degree of (4.6 +/- 0.4)% was measured, the highest value found up to now for this class of sources. Conversely, only a similar to 0.6% average degree was obtained during the second pointing ten days later.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0345161