A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The IXPE View of GRB 221009A
Authors: Negro Michela, Di Lalla Niccolò, Omodei Nicola, Veres Péter, Silvestri Stefano, Manfreda Alberto, Burns Eric, Baldini Luca, Costa Enrico, Ehlert Steven R., Kennea Jamie A., Liodakis Ioannis, Marshall Herman L., Mereghetti Sandro, Middei Riccardo, Muleri Fabio, O'Dell Stephen L., Roberts Oliver J., Romani Roger W., Sgró Carmelo, Terashima Masanobu, Tiengo Andrea, Viscolo Domenico, Di Marco Alessandro, La Monaca Fabio, Latronico Luca, Matt Giorgio, Perri Matteo, Puccetti Simonetta, Poutanen Juri, Ratheesh Ajay, Rogantini Daniele, Slane Patrick, Soffitta Paolo, Lindfors Elina, Nilsson Kari, Kasikov Anni, Marscher Alan P., Tavecchio Fabrizio, Cibrario Nicoló, Gunji Shuichi, Malacaria Christian, Paggi Alessandro, Yang Yi-Jung, Zane Silvia, Weisskopf Martin C., Agudo Iván, Antonelli Lucio A., Bachetti Matteo, Baumgartner Wayne H., Bellazzini Ronaldo, Bianchi Stefano, Bongiorno Stephen D., Bonino Raffaella, Brez Alessandro, Bucciantini Niccolò, Capitanio Fiamma, Castellano Simone, Cavazzuti Elisabetta, Chen Chien-Ting, Ciprini Stefano, De Rosa Alessandra, Del Monte Ettore, Di Gesu Laura, Donnarumma Immacolata, Doroshenko Victor, Dovc̆iak Michal, Enoto Teruaki, Evangelista Yuri, Fabiani Sergio, Ferrazzoli Riccardo, Garcia Javier A., Hayashida Kiyoshi, Heyl Jeremy, Iwakiri Wataru, Jorstad Svetlana G., Kaaret Philip, Karas Vladimir, Kislat Fabian, Kitaguchi Takao, Kolodziejczak Jeffery J., Krawczynski Henric, Maldera Simone, Marin Frédéric, Marinucci Andrea, Mitsuishi Ikuyuki, Mizuno Tsunefumi, Ng C.-Y., Oppedisano Chiara, Papitto Alessandro, Pavlov George G., Peirson Abel L., Pesce-Rollins Melissa, Petrucci Pierre-Olivier, Pilia Maura, Possenti Andrea, Ramsey Brian D., Rankin John, Spandre Gloria, Swartz Douglas A., Tamagawa Toru, Taverna Roberto, Tawara Yuzuru, Tennant Allyn F., Thomas Nicholas E., Tombesi Francesco, Trois Alessio, Tsygankov Sergey S., Turolla Roberto, Vink Jacco, Wu Kinwah, Xie Fei
Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Astrophysical Journal Letters
Journal name in source: Astrophysical Journal Letters
Article number: L21
Volume: 946
Issue: 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acba17
Web address : https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/acba17
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179343700
We present the IXPE observation of GRB 221009A, which includes upper limits on the linear polarization degree of both prompt and afterglow emission in the soft X-ray energy band. GRB 221009A is an exceptionally bright gamma-ray burst (GRB) that reached Earth on 2022 October 9 after traveling through the dust of the Milky Way. The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) pointed at GRB 221009A on October 11 to observe, for the first time, the 2–8 keV X-ray polarization of a GRB afterglow. We set an upper limit to the polarization degree of the afterglow emission of 13.8% at a 99% confidence level. This result provides constraints on the jet opening angle and the viewing angle of the GRB, or alternatively, other properties of the emission region. Additionally, IXPE captured halo-rings of dust-scattered photons that are echoes of the GRB prompt emission. The 99% confidence level upper limit to the prompt polarization degree depends on the background model assumption, and it ranges between ∼55% and ∼82%. This single IXPE pointing provides both the first assessment of X-ray polarization of a GRB afterglow and the first GRB study with polarization observations of both the prompt and afterglow phases.
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