Polarization effects in radiation from compact X-ray sources

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Adv. Space Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6015485

Gnedin, Iu N

A theory of polarization of X rays emitted by magnetized neutron stars, white dwarfs and black hole accretion disks is presented and predictions are compared with polarimetric data. Polarization occurs in accreting neutron stars and white dwarfs in binary systems as plasma travels along magnetic field lines formed between the companions. Movement parallel to the field produces circular polarization, transverse propagation yields linear polarization and elliptical polarization arises from other angles. The actual mechanism is alterations in the absorption coefficients of magnetized plasma, changes introduced by available bremsstrahlung and electron scattering processes. Thomson scattering is an origin of X ray polarization in black hole and neutron star accretion disks, with the type of polarization being dependent on the radiation density near the boundary, the presence of Faraday rotation and the geometry of the disk magnetic field. Polarimetric data on 10 stellar objects are presented as supportive evidence for the theory. 14 references.

• Research Organization: Fiziko-Tekhnicheskii Institut, Leningrad, USSR
• OSTI ID: 6015485
• Report Number(s): CONF-8307144-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Adv. Space Res.; (United States) Journal Volume: 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
ASTROPHYSICS
BINARY STARS
BLACK HOLES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEUTRON STARS
POLARIZATION
PULSARS
STARS