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X-Ray Polarimetry Workshop SLAC, Stanford, California 9-11 February 2004 |
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Polarization Signatures of High Energy Processes
Matthew
Baring
Rice University
baring@rice.edu
Matthew G. Baring
Polarimetry has proven a powerful diagnostic tool in optical and radio astronomy. The advent of polarization studies in high energy astrophysics is imminent, if not already realized. Strong polarization is the signature of marked anisotropy and provides unparalleled insight into emission region geometries. To set the stage for later source-specific reviews in the workshop, this review summarizes the physics of polarization in a number high energy processes. The photon energy domains considered will include the classic X-ray band, extending upwards into the gamma-ray range. Since magnetic fields naturally impose anisotropy on a medium, mechanisms in magnetized environs will form a major focus of the review. Scattering and attenuation processes will also be addressed, since they also exhibit distinctive features. Promising environments for spectropolarimetry and time-resolved polarimetry will be briefly discussed.
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For more information, contact
Jennifer Formichelli |
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