The Polarized Cosmic Hand: IXPE Observations of PSR B1509-58/MSH 15-52
: Romani Roger W., Wong Josephine, Di Lalla Niccolo, Omodei Nicola, Xie Fei, Ng C. -Y., Ferrazzoli Riccardo, Di Marco Alessandro, Bucciantini Niccolo, Pilia Maura, Slane Patrick, Weisskopf Martin C., Johnston Simon, Burgay Marta, Wei Deng, Yang Yi-Jung, Zhang Shumeng, Antonelli Lucio A., Bachetti Matteo, Baldini Luca, Baumgartner Wayne H., Bellazzini Ronaldo, Bianchi Stefano, Bongiorno Stephen D., Bonino Raffaella, Brez Alessandro, Capitanio Fiamma, Castellano Simone, Cavazzuti Elisabetta, Chen Chien-Ting, Cibrario Nicolo, Ciprini Stefano, Costa Enrico, De Rosa Alessandra, Del Monte Ettore, Di Gesu Laura, Donnarumma Immacolata, Doroshenko Victor, Dovciak Michal, Ehlert Steven R., Enoto Teruaki, Evangelista Yuri, Fabiani Sergio, Garcia Javier A., Gunji Shuichi, Hayashida Kiyoshi, Heyl Jeremy, Iwakiri Wataru, Liodakis Ioannis, Kaaret Philip, Karas Vladimir, Kim Dawoon E., Kitaguchi Takao, Kolodziejczak Jeffery J., Krawczynski Henric, La Monaca Fabio, Latronico Luca, Madejski Grzegorz, Maldera Simone, Manfreda Alberto, Marin Frederic, Marinucci Andrea, Marscher Alan P., Marshall Herman L., Massaro Francesco, Matt Giorgio, Middei Riccardo, Mitsuishi Ikuyuki, Mizuno Tsunefumi, Muleri Fabio, Negro Michela, O'Dell Stephen L., Oppedisano Chiara, Pacciani Luigi, Papitto Alessandro, Pavlov George G., Perri Matteo, Pesce-Rollins Melissa, Petrucci Pierre-Olivier, Possenti Andrea, Poutanen Juri, Puccetti Simonetta, Ramsey Brian D., Rankin John, Ratheesh Ajay, Roberts Oliver J., Sgro Carmelo, Soffitta Paolo, Spandre Gloria, Swartz Douglas A., Tamagawa Toru, Tavecchio Fabrizio, Taverna Roberto, Tawara Yuzuru, Tennant Allyn F., Thomas Nicholas E., Tombesi Francesco, Trois Alessio, Tsygankov Sergey, Turolla Roberto, Vink Jacco, Wu Kinwah, Zane Silvia
Publisher: IOP Publishing Ltd
: 2023
: Astrophysical Journal
: ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
: 23
: 957
: 1
: 0004-637X
: 1538-4357
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acfa02
: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/acfa02
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/380633813
We describe IXPE polarization observations of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) MSH 15−52, the "Cosmic Hand." We find X-ray polarization across the PWN, with B-field vectors generally aligned with filamentary X-ray structures. High-significance polarization is seen in arcs surrounding the pulsar and toward the end of the "jet," with polarization degree PD > 70%, thus approaching the maximum allowed synchrotron value. In contrast, the base of the jet has lower polarization, indicating a complex magnetic field at significant angle to the jet axis. We also detect significant polarization from PSR B1509−58 itself. Although only the central pulse phase bin of the pulse has high individual significance, flanking bins provide lower-significance detections and, in conjunction with the X-ray image and radio polarization, can be used to constrain rotating vector model solutions for the pulsar geometry.
