X-ray polarimetry has the potential to make key-contributions to our understanding of galactic compact objects like binary black hole systems and neutron stars, and extragalactic objects like active galactic nuclei, blazars, and Gamma Ray Bursts. Fur
thermore, several particle astrophysics topics can be addressed including uniquely sensitive tests of Lorentz invariance. In the energy range from 10 keV to several MeV, Compton polarimeters achieve the best performance. In this paper we evaluate the benefit that comes from using the azimuthal and polar angles of the Compton scattered photons in the analysis, rather than using the azimuthal scattering angles alone. We study the case of an ideal Compton polarimeter and show that a Maximum Likelihood analysis which uses the two scattering angles lowers the Minimum Detectable Polarization (MDP) by ~20% compared to a standard analysis based on the azimuthal scattering angles alone. The accuracies with which the polarization fraction and the polarization direction can be measured improve by a similar amount. We conclude by discussing potential applications of Maximum Likelihood analysis methods for various polarimeter experiments.
X-ray polarimetry promises to give qualitatively new information about high-energy sources. Examples of interesting source classes are binary black hole systems, rotation and accretion powered neutron stars, Microquasars, Active Galactic Nuclei and G
amma-Ray Bursts. Furthermore, X-ray polarimetry affords the possibility for testing fundamental physics, e.g. to observe signatures of light bending in the strong gravitational field of a black hole, to detect third order Quantum Electrodynamic effects in the magnetosphere of Magnetars, and to perform sensitive tests of Lorentz Invariance. In this paper we discuss scientific drivers of hard (>10 keV) X-ray polarimetry emphasizing how observations in the hard band can complement observations at lower energies (0.1 - 10 keV). Subsequently, we describe four different technical realizations of hard X-ray polarimeters suitable for small to medium sized space borne missions, and study their performance in the signal-dominated case based on Monte Carlo simulations. We end with confronting the instrument requirements for accomplishing the science goals with the capabilities of the four polarimeters.
We report on the design and estimated performance of a balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimeter called HX-POL. The experiment uses a combination of Si and Cadmium Zinc Telluride detectors to measure the polarization of 50 keV-400 keV X-rays from cosmic s
ources through the dependence of the angular distribution of Compton scattered photons on the polarization direction. On a one-day balloon flight, HX-POL would allow us to measure the polarization of bright Crab-like sources for polarization degrees well below 10%. On a longer (15-30 day) flight from Australia or Antarctica, HX-POL would be be able to measure the polarization of bright galactic X-ray sources down to polarization degrees of a few percent. Hard X-ray polarization measurements provide unique venues for the study of particle acceleration processes by compact objects and relativistic outflows. In this paper, we discuss the overall instrument design and performance. Furthermore, we present results from laboratory tests of the Si and CZT detectors.
This is a report on the findings of the extragalactic science working group for the white paper on the status and future of TeV gamma-ray astronomy. The white paper was commissioned by the American Physical Society, and the full white paper can be fo
und on astro-ph (arXiv:0810.0444). This detailed section discusses extragalactic science topics including active galactic nuclei, cosmic ray acceleration in galaxies, galaxy clusters and large scale structure formation shocks, and the study of the extragalactic infrared and optical background radiation. The scientific potential of ground based gamma-ray observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts and dark matter annihilation radiation is covered in other sections of the white paper.
In recent years, ground-based gamma-ray observatories have made a number of important astrophysical discoveries which have attracted the attention of the wider scientific community. The Division of Astrophysics of the American Physical Society has re
quested the preparation of a white paper on the status and future of ground-based gamma-ray astronomy to define the science goals of the future observatory, to determine the performance specifications, and to identify the areas of necessary technology development. In this contribution we give a brief overview of the activities of the current white paper team and invite the international community to contribute to the white paper.
