X-ray polarimetry : a new window in astrophysics / edited by Ronaldo Bellazzini ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Bellazzini, Ronaldo.

Craig M. Merrihue Memorial Fund.

Series:

Cambridge contemporary astrophysics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astrophysical spectropolarimetry.

X-ray astronomy.

Physical Description:

xxi, 362 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Summary:

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

X-ray polarimetry: historical remarks and other considerations

Scattering polarimetry in high energy astronomy

Photoelectric polarimeters

Bragg crystal polarimeters

X-ray polarimetry with the photon counting pixel detector timepix

High-energy polarized photon interactions with matter: simulations with Geant4

The GPD as a polarimeter: theory and facts

Ideal gas electron multipliers (GEMs) for x-ray polarimeters

Broad-band soft x-ray polarimetry

Feasibility of x-ray photoelectric polarimeters with large field of view

Angular resolution of a photoelectric polarimeter

Development of a Thomson x-ray polarimeter

Hard x / soft gamma ray polarimetry using a Laue lens

Probing strong gravity effects with x-ray polarimetry

X-ray polarization from black holes in the thermal state

Strong-gravity effects acting on polarization from orbiting spots

Polarization of thermal emission from accreting black holes

X-ray polarimetry and radio-quiet AGN

The soft x-ray polarization in obscured AGN

The polarization of complex x-ray sources

Polarization of Compton x-rays from jets in AGN Polarization of x-ray lines from galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies

Polarization characteristics of rotation-powered pulsars

Polarized x-rays from magnetized neutron stars

Polarization properties of x-ray millisecond pulsars

X-ray polarization signatures of neutron stars

Polarization from the oscillating magnetized accretion torus

X-ray polarization from accreting white dwarfs and associated systems

Polarization of pulsar wind nebulae

X-ray polarization of gamma-ray bursts

Central engine afterglow from GRBs and the polarization signature

GRB afterglow polarimetry

Gamma-ray polarimetry with SPI

INTEGRAL/IBIS observations of the Crab Nebula and GRB 041219A

Fermi results on the origin of high energy emission in pulsars

Diagnostics of the evolution of spiral galaxies in a cluster environmen

Gravity and extreme magnetism SMEX (GEMS)

Programs of x-ray polarimetry in Italy

A polarimeter for IXO

Polarimetry with ASTRO-H soft gamma-ray detector

EXIST and its polarization sensitivity

PoGOLite: a balloon-borne soft gamma-ray polarimeter

Studies of neutron background rejection in the PoGOLite polarimeter

Observing polarized x-rays with PoGOLite Pre-flight qualification tests of the PoGOLite detector system

The gamma-ray polarimeter experiment (GRAPE) Balloon Payload

POLAR: an instrument dedicated to GRB polarization measurement

Polarisation detection capability of GRIPS

X-ray and y-ray polarimetry small satellite mission polaris

GAP aboard the solar powered sail mission

Hard x-ray polarimeter for small satellite missions

Performance of hard x-ray polarimeter: PHENEX

GRB polarimetry with POET.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Craig M. Merrihue Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

9780521191845

052119184X

OCLC:

506249073

Publisher Number:

99939789331

Online:

Publisher description

Contributor biographical information