The IXPE View of Neutron Star Low-Mass X-ray Binaries

Francesco Ursini; Andrea Gnarini; Fiamma Capitanio; Anna Bobrikova; Massimo Cocchi; Alessandro Di Marco; Sergio Fabiani; Ruben Farinelli; Fabio La Monaca; John Rankin; Mary Lynne Saade; Juri Poutanen

doi:10.3390/galaxies12040043

Galaxies (Aug 2024)

Affiliations

Francesco Ursini: Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Roma, Italy
Andrea Gnarini: Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Roma, Italy
Fiamma Capitanio: INAF Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
Anna Bobrikova: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
Massimo Cocchi: INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, via della Scienza 5, I-09047 Selargius, Italy
Alessandro Di Marco: INAF Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
Sergio Fabiani: INAF Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
Ruben Farinelli: INAF Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy
Fabio La Monaca: INAF Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
John Rankin: INAF Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy
Mary Lynne Saade: Science & Technology Institute, Universities Space Research Association, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA
Juri Poutanen: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies12040043
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 4
p. 43

Abstract

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Low-mass X-ray binaries hosting weakly magnetized neutron stars (NS-LMXBs) are among the brightest sources in the X-ray sky. Since 2021, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) has provided new measurements of the X-ray polarization of these sources. IXPE observations have revealed that most NS-LMXBs are significantly polarized in the X-rays, providing unprecedented insight into the geometry of their accretion flow. In this review paper, we summarize the first results obtained by IXPE on NS-LMXBs, the emerging trends within each class of sources (atoll/Z), and possible physical interpretations.

Published in Galaxies

ISSN: 2075-4434 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Astronomy
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/galaxies

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