Polarization properties of weakly magnetized neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries
Abstract
X-ray polarimetry missions like Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer will be able to measure for the first time the polarization properties of accreting, weakly magnetized neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries. In this work, we present simulations of the expected X-ray polarized signal, including the coronal emission for different geometries of the corona itself, i.e. a slab above the accretion disc and a spherical shell around the neutron star. The simulations are performed with the fully relativistic Monte Carlo code MONK capable of computing the X-ray polarization degree and angle for various physical input parameters of the neutron star, disc, and corona. Different coronal geometries result in significantly different X-ray polarization properties, which can therefore be used to constrain the geometry of the systems.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- August 2022
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/stac1523
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2206.00749
- Bibcode:
- 2022MNRAS.514.2561G
- Keywords:
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- accretion;
- accretion discs;
- polarization;
- stars: neutron;
- X-rays: binaries;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- doi:10.1093/mnras/stac1523