Soffitta, P;
Baldini, L;
Baumgartner, W;
Bellazzini, R;
Bongiorno, SD;
Bucciantini, N;
Costa, E;
... Zane, S; + view all
(2023)
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at last!
In:
Proceedings Volume 12678, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIII; 1267803.
SPIE: San Diego, California, United States.
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Abstract
IXPE, the first observatory dedicated to imaging X-ray polarimetry, was launched on Dec 9, 2021 and is operating successfully. A partnership between NASA and the Italian Space Agencey (ASI) IXPE features three X-ray telescopes each comprised of a mirror module assembly with a polarization sensitive detector at its focus. An extending boom was deployed on orbit to provide the necessary 4 m focal length. A 3-axis-stabilized spacecraft provides power, attitude determination and control, and commanding. After one year of observation IXPE has measured statistically-significant polarization from almost all the classes of celestial sources that emit X-rays. In the following we describe the IXPE mission, reporting on its performance after 1.5 year of operations. We show the main astrophysical results which are outstanding for a SMEX mission.
| Type: | Proceedings paper |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at last! |
| Event: | UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXIII |
| Dates: | 20 Aug 2023 - 25 Aug 2023 |
| ISBN-13: | 9781510665705 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1117/12.2677296 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677296 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10182425 |
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