Polarized X-rays from Magnetized Neutron Stars

Publication Type
Conference Paper
Year of Publication
2009
Authors
Dong Lai
Wynn C. G Ho
Matthew van Adelsberg
Jeremy S. Heyl
Editor
R. Bellazzini
E. Costa
G. Matt
G. Tagliaferri
Name of Publication
X-ray Polarimetry: A New Window in Astrophysics
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Entry URL
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009arXiv0906.4717L&li…
Keywords
Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Abstract

We review the polarization properties of X-ray emission from highly magnetized neutron stars, focusing on emission from the stellar surfaces. We discuss how x-ray polarization can be used to constrain neutron star magnetic field and emission geometry, and to probe strong-field quantum electrodynamics and possibly constrain the properties of axions