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Calibration of the IXPE Focal Plane X-Ray Polarimeters to Polarized Radiation

Journal Article · · The Astronomical Journal
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  1. SLAC
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a NASA Small Explorer mission—in partnership with the Italian Space Agency—dedicated to X-ray polarimetry in the 2–8 keV energy band. The IXPE telescope comprises three grazing incidence mirror modules coupled to three detector units hosting each one a Gas Pixel Detector, a gas detector that allows measuring the polarization degree by using the photoelectric effect. A wide and accurate ground calibration was carried out on the IXPE Detector Units at INAF-IAPS, in Italy, where a dedicated facility was setup at this aim. In this paper, we present the results obtained from this calibration campaign to study the IXPE focal plane detector response to polarized radiation. In particular, we report on the modulation factor, which is the main parameter to estimate the sensitivity of a polarimeter.
Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Contributing Organization:
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
1885968
Journal Information:
The Astronomical Journal, Journal Name: The Astronomical Journal Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 164; ISSN 0004-6256
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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