A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
X-ray polarization from accretion disk winds
Authors: Nitindala, Anagha P.; Veledina, Alexandra; Poutanen, Juri
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Publishing place: LES ULIS CEDEX A
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Journal name in source: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal acronym: ASTRON ASTROPHYS
Article number: A230
Volume: 694
Number of pages: 13
ISSN: 0004-6361
eISSN: 1432-0746
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202453188
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202453188
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491487289
X-ray polarimetry is a fine tool for probing the accretion geometry and physical processes operating in the proximity of compact objects, such as black holes and neutron stars. Recent discoveries made by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer question our understanding of the accretion picture. The observed high levels of X-ray polarization in X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei are challenging to achieve within the conventional scenarios. We investigate the possibility that a fraction (or even all) of the observed polarized signal arises from scattering in the equatorial accretion disk winds, the slow and extended outflows, which are often detected in these systems via spectroscopic means. We find that wind scattering can reproduce the levels of polarization that are observed in these sources.
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Funding information in the publication:
This research has been supported by the Academy of Finland grant 355672 (AV) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education grant 075-15-2024-647. Nordita is supported in part by NordForsk.
