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Session 57 - Astrophysical Diagnostics from Polarimetry.
Display session, Wednesday, June 12
Tripp Commons,
The Stellar X-Ray Polarimeter (SXRP) will provide an order of magnitude increase in sensitivity compared to previous astronomical x-ray polarimeters. The SXRP uses a graphite Bragg crystal and a lithium Thomson scattering target as polarization analyzers and is sensitive in an energy band from 2.6 to 15 keV. Candidate targets include binary x-ray pulsars, supernova remnants, and accretion disk sources including black hole candidates and soft x-ray transients. Measurement of the x-ray polarization of these sources will provide unique information not obtainable from timing or spectroscopy. For example, SXRP observations of accreting x-ray pulsars will definitely determine the accretion geometry. The SXRP will be launched on the Russian Spectrum-X-Gamma mission, currently scheduled for late 1997.
