Opening a New Window to Fundamental Physics and Astrophysics: X-ray Polarimetry

• Main Authors: Costa, E, Bellazzini, R, Soffitta, P, di Persio, G, Feroci, M, Morelli, E, Muleri, F, Pacciani, L, Rubini, A, Baldini, L, Bitti, F, Brez, A, Cavalca, F, Latronico, L, Massai, M. M, Omodei, N, Sgro', C, Spandre, G, Matt, G, Perola, G. C, Santangelo, A, Celotti, A, Barret, D, Vilhu, O, Piro, L, Fraser, G, Courvoisier, T. J. -L, Barcons, X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15.03.2006
• Subjects: Physics - Astrophysics of Galaxies; Physics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics; Physics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics; Physics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena; Physics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; Physics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0603399

Proc. 39th ESLAB Symposium, Noordwijk, 19-21 April 2005, SP-588, p. 141-149, F. Favata, A. Gimenez. eds An extensive theoretical literature predicts that X-ray Polarimetry can directly determine relevant physical and geometrical parameters of astrophysical sources, and discriminate between models further than allowed by spectral and timing data only. X-ray Polarimetry can also provide tests of Fundamental Physics. A high sensitivity polarimeter in the focal plane of a New Generation X-ray telescope could open this new window in the High Energy Sky.