A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Polarized radiation from the spreading layer of weakly magnetized neutron stars
Authors: Bobrikova, Anna; Poutanen, Juri; Loktev, Vladislav
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: A181
Volume: 696
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 0004-6361
eISSN: 1432-0746
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202452358(external)
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202452358(external)
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491827697(external)
Observations show that the X-ray emission of the accreting weakly magnetized neutron stars is polarized. We developed a theoretical model for polarized radiation from the spreading layer, which is the extension of the accretion flow boundary layer onto the neutron star surface. We calculated the Stokes parameters of the radiation and accounted for relativistic aberration and gravitational light bending in the Schwarzschild metric. We show that regardless of the geometry, the polarization degree of the spreading layer does not exceed 1.5%. Our results have implications with regard to the understanding of the X-ray polarization from weakly magnetized neutron stars observed with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer and the future enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission.
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Funding information in the publication:
This research was supported by the Academy of Finland grant 333112, and the grants 002200175 and 00240328 of the Finnish Cultural Foundation (AB).
