Details
Speaker Name/Affiliation
Henric Krawcynski / Washington University in St. Louis
When
-
Seminar Type
Location (Room)
JILA Auditorium
Event Details & Abstracts
Abstract:
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission was launched on December 9, 2021 and has been used for measuring the linear polarization of X-rays from cosmic sources. I report here on IXPE observations of the High Mass X-Ray Binary Cygnus X-1. IXPE detected a strong 2-8 keV polarization signal constraining the origin of the X-ray emission and the configuration of matter close to the Cyg X-1 black hole. I will discuss the observational results and their interpretation. I will conclude with summarizing the science drivers for the upcoming IXPE observations of several other black holes in X-ray binaries.