A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
First Detection of Polarization in X-Rays for PSR B0540-69 and Its Nebula
Authors: Xie Fei, Wong Josephine, La Monaca Fabio, Romani Roger W., Heyl Jeremy, Kaaret Philip, Di Marco Alessandro, Bucciantini Niccolò, Liu Kuan, Ng Chi-Yung, Di Lalla Niccolò, Weisskopf Martin C., Costa Enrico, Soffitta Paolo, Muleri Fabio, Bachetti Matteo, Pilia Maura, Rankin John, Fabiani Sergio, Agudo Iván, Antonelli Lucio A., 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, Ciprini Stefano, De Rosa Alessandra, Del Monte Ettore, Di Gesu Laura, Donnarumma Immacolata, Doroshenko Victor, Dovčiak Michal, Ehlert Steven R., Enoto Teruaki, Evangelista Yuri, Ferrazzoli Riccardo, Garcia Javier A., Gunji Shuichi, Hayashida Kiyoshi, Iwakiri Wataru, Jorstad Svetlana G., Karas Vladimir, Kislat Fabian, Kitaguchi Takao, Kolodziejczak Jeffery J., Krawczynski Henric, Latronico Luca, Liodakis Ioannis, Maldera Simone, Manfreda Alberto, Marin Frédéric, Marinucci Andrea, Marscher Alan P., Marshall Herman L., Massaro Francesco, Matt Giorgio, Mitsuishi Ikuyuki, Mizuno Tsunefumi, Negro Michela, O’Dell Stephen L., Omodei Nicola, Oppedisano Chiara, Papitto Alessandro, Pavlov George G., Peirson Abel L., Perri Matteo, Pesce-Rollins Melissa, Petrucci Pierre-Olivier, Possenti Andrea, Poutanen Juri, Puccetti Simonetta, Ramsey Brian D., Ratheesh Ajay, Roberts Oliver J., Sgrò Carmelo, Slane Patrick, 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 S., Turolla Roberto, Vink Jacco, Wu Kinwah, Zane Silvia, (IXPE Collaboration), Wadiasingh Zorawar, Ho Wynn C. G., Harding Alice K., Gendreau Keith C., Arzoumanian Zaven
Publisher: Institute of Physics Publishing
Publishing place: BRISTOL
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Astrophysical Journal
Journal name in source: ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Journal acronym: ASTROPHYS J
Article number: 92
Volume: 962
Issue: 1
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0004-637X
eISSN: 1538-4357
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad17ba
Web address : https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ad17ba
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/387086153
Preprint address: https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.02504
We report on X-ray polarization measurements of the extragalactic Crab-like PSR B0540-69 and its Pulsar Wind Nebula (PWN) in the Large Magellanic Cloud, using a similar to 850 ks Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) exposure. The PWN is unresolved by IXPE. No statistically significant polarization is detected for the image-averaged data, giving a 99% confidence polarization upper limit (MDP99) of 5.3% in the 2-8 keV energy range. However, a phase-resolved analysis detects polarization for both the nebula and pulsar in the 4-6 keV energy range. For the PWN defined as the off-pulse phases, the polarization degree (PD) of (24.5 +/- 5.3)% and polarization angle (PA) of (78.1 +/- 6.2)degrees is detected at 4.6 sigma significance level, consistent with the PA observed in the optical band. In a single on-pulse window, a hint of polarization is measured at 3.8 sigma with PD of (50.0 +/- 13.1)% and PA of (6.2 +/- 7.4)degrees. A "simultaneous" PSR/PWN analysis finds two bins at the edges of the pulse exceeding 3 sigma PD significance, with PD of (68 +/- 20)% and (62 +/- 20)%; intervening bins at 2-3 sigma significance have lower PD, hinting at additional polarization structure.
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