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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
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X-ray polarization of Z-type neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries

Authors: Gnarini, Andrea; Ursini, Francesco; Matt, Giorgio; Bianchi, Stefano; Capitanio, Fiamma; Cocchi, Massimo; Fabiani, Sergio; +2 Authors

X-ray polarization of Z-type neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries

Abstract

Z-sources are a particular class of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries characterized by a wide Z-like track in their hard color-soft color (or hardness-intensity) diagrams, with three branches: the horizontal (HB), the normal (NB), and the flaring branch (FB). Spectropolarimetric observations with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) show that the polarization in these sources varies along the Z-track, reaching unexpectedly high values in the HB. In this work, we collected all the polarimetric results obtained so far from observations of Z-sources with IXPE, using a model-independent analysis with ixpeobssim. We first performed a detailed characterization of the spectral state of each source along the Z-track using IXPE, along with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) data and then estimated the polarization for each branch. Although we confirm that the average polarization in the 2–8 keV band decreases moving from the HB to the NB for all three Z-sources observed in these branches, we also observe a qualitatively increasing trend from the NB to the FB. Whereas this increase is clearly significant for Cyg X-2 and Sco X-1, the polarization remains consistent at the 90% confidence level for GX 5–1 and GX 349+2, while for XTE J1701–462 and GX 340+0 only upper limits are found in the FB. For most sources, the average polarization angle in the 2–8 keV range remains consistent along the CCD; however, we observe a significant rotation for both Sco X-1 and GX 349+2 (at the 90% confidence level) as they move from the NB to the FB. In addition, we observe a significant increase in the polarization degree with energy in most of the observed Z-sources, with some also exhibiting a rotation of the polarization angle with energy (approximately by 20◦−30◦).

Country
Italy
Related Organizations
Keywords

accretion; accretion disks; polarization; stars: neutron; X-rays: binaries

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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