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X-Ray Polarimetry Workshop SLAC, Stanford, California 9-11 February 2004 |
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X-ray Polarimetry as a Probe of Emission area geometry in Compact objects (Black Holes and Neutron Stars)
Lev
Titarchuk
lev@xip.nrl.navy.mil
Lev Titarchuk
In my talk I demonstrate the formulation of the fundamental problem of the determination of X-ray polarization in terms of the full relativistic kinetic formalism. In the particular case of Comptonization of the soft radiation the solution of the photon kinetic equation assumes the separation of the space and energy variables. It means that for different geometric configurations the X-ray spectrum can be the same and the degree of polarization of X-ray radiation is only reliable signature of the asymmetry of the Compton emission region. Also a specific behavior of the polarization degree as a function of energy can be very strong indication for the physics of the X-ray spectral formation. For example, if the X-ray radiation is a result of the Comptonization then the polarization degree should be almost independent of the energy in the energy band between 3 and 100 keV. From the other hand the degree of polarization is very strong function of the optical depth of the Compton cloud and its asymmetry. In my talk I show examples of the computed spectra , polarization and angular distribution of the X-ray radiation for various geometries of the emission area. In the end I provide recommendations for polarization measurements of X-ray radiation in black hole and neutron star sources.
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For more information, contact
Jennifer Formichelli |
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