X-Ray Polarimetry Workshop SLAC, Stanford, California 9-11 February 2004

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X-ray and Gamma-ray Polarization in Gamma-ray Bursts

Jonathan

Granot

Institute for Advanced Study

granot@ias.edu

(none)

The recent detection of a very high degree of linear polarization in the prompt gamma-ray emission of GRB 021216, although controversial, has greatly increased the interest gamma-ray burst polarization in general, and in the polarization of the prompt gamma-ray emission in particular. I discuss the theoretical expectations for the polarization of the prompt GRB emission in soft gamma-rays or hard X-rays, as well as the expected X-ray polarization in the early stages of the GRB afterglow. Polarization measurements in the prompt GRB can help determine whether the magnetic field inside the ejecta is dominated by an ordered component or by a random component. This might provide clues as to whether magnetic fields take an active role in accelerating and collimating GRB jets.

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