Speaker
Sergio Fabiani
(Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)
Description
The launch of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) on December 9 2021 has opened a new window in X-ray astronomy.
IXPE is a NASA Small Explorer Mission in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The mission opened a new window of investigation including imaging x-ray polarimetry in the "bouquet" of astrophysical observables.
The observatory features three identical telescopes, each consisting of a mirror module assembly with a polarization-sensitive imaging x-ray detector at the focus.
IXPE polarization measurements offer new physics probes of a variety of objects. Polarimetry allows to inspect geometry and magnetic fileld properties of astrophysical sources both steady and transient.
Author
Sergio Fabiani
(Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)
