Observing Blazars with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer
Abstract
We will describe the potential scientific return from observations of blazars with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). IXPE, planned for launch in 2021, is a NASA mission to measure polarizations of many sources in the 2-8 keV band. Blazars are often found to be highly polarized in the radio and optical bands, so we expect to detect the polarization of the X-ray light as well. We will show results from simulations of several sources and demonstrate how the imaging capability of IXPE can be used to advantage when observing the jets of nearby quasars. Typical exposure times are expected to be of order 100 ks and we also plan to observe blazars in outburst. We will be working on coordinated observations with other telescopes so that the X-ray polarization data can be properly interpreted.Support for this work was provided in part by contract 80MSFC17C0012 from the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
- Publication:
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AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division
- Pub Date:
- March 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019HEAD...1710944M