Paper 13093-310
The legacy of IXPE: directions towards a new generation of 3D photo-electric x-ray polarimetry missions
On demand | Presented live 19 June 2024
Abstract
IXPE has been a highly successful mission, opening a new window in X-ray astronomy. IXPE observations have highlighted the importance of polarimetry along with spectroscopy in determining the geometry and physics behind many high-energy emissions from black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs), Pulsar Wind Nebulae (PWN), Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) etc. However, IXPE is just the first step towards future wide band (0.1 to 100 keV) X-ray polarimetry. The future of this field demands larger effective areas, better energy resolution, and broader energy bands. IXPE is barely capable to address key scientific cases such as reflection features in X-ray binaries, molecular clouds around the Galactic Center, radio-quiet AGNs, non-thermal emission regions in supernova remnants etc. To take advantage of the recent advances in X-ray optics, gaseous detectors with different thickness, pressures and gas mixtures would be required. Using next-generation ASICs, like Timepix3, it is possible to have parallel fast readout, providing simultaneous time and charge information for each pixel, enabling 3D imaging of photoelectron tracks. In this article, we explore such a possibility using GridPix detectors.
Presenter
INAF - Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali (Italy)
Born in Rome (Italy) on 18th November 1964
Senior Researcher at INAF-IAPS (Rome) 2006-Present
Researcher at INAF-IAPS (Rome) 1997-2006
Maturità Scientifica (60/60, Rome, Istituto Assunzione 1983)
Laurea Degree in Physics (Cum Laude, Università La Sapienza May 1990);ù
Development of an innovative X-ray polarimeters based on the photoelectric effect and Compton effect (1994-present).
"Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE - NASA SMEX) Italian PI (2014-Presente)
"X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE), ESA M-4 (Mission PI 2014-2017)
Stellar X-Ray Polarimeter (SXRP) 1989-2000 Detector Scientist
AGILE-SuperAGILE (2001-present) Design, Construction, Test & Calibration
Satellite per Astronomia X (BeppoSAX) Wide Field Camera Scientist 1996-2002
222 refereed papers H-Index (ADS) 52