The Polarized Cosmic Hand: IXPE Observations of PSR B1509-58/MSH 15-52
Abstract
We describe IXPE polarization observations of the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) MSH 15-52, the "Cosmic Hand." We find X-ray polarization across the PWN, with B-field vectors generally aligned with filamentary X-ray structures. High-significance polarization is seen in arcs surrounding the pulsar and toward the end of the "jet," with polarization degree PD > 70%, thus approaching the maximum allowed synchrotron value. In contrast, the base of the jet has lower polarization, indicating a complex magnetic field at significant angle to the jet axis. We also detect significant polarization from PSR B1509-58 itself. Although only the central pulse phase bin of the pulse has high individual significance, flanking bins provide lower-significance detections and, in conjunction with the X-ray image and radio polarization, can be used to constrain rotating vector model solutions for the pulsar geometry.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 2023
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/acfa02
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2309.16067
- Bibcode:
- 2023ApJ...957...23R
- Keywords:
-
- Pulsar wind nebulae;
- Rotation powered pulsars;
- Polarimetry;
- 2215;
- 1408;
- 1278;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- To appear in the Astrophysical Journal