X-ray spectropolarimetry of the bright atoll Serpens X-1

We present simultaneous X-ray polarimetric and spectral observations of the bright atoll source Ser X-1 carried out with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), NICER, and NuSTAR . We obtain an upper limit of 2% (99% confidence level) on the polarization degree in the 2–8 keV energy band. We detect four type-I X-ray bursts, two of which during the IXPE observation. This is the first time that has IXPE observed type-I X-ray bursts, and it allows us to place an upper limit on their polarization degree; however, due to the limited total number of counts in each burst, we obtain a relatively high upper limit (80%). We confirm the presence of reflection features in the X-ray spectrum, notably a broad iron line. Fitting the data with a relativistic reflection model, we derive a disk inclination of 25°. The spectral and polarization properties are comparable with other atolls observed by IXPE, suggesting a similar accretion geometry, and the relatively low polarization is consistent with the low inclination.

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2024-08-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202451584
Citations
6
Primary Topic
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.65

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article

X-ray spectropolarimetry of the bright atoll Serpens X-1

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6 citations
Astronomy and Astrophysics
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
3.65
article

X-ray spectropolarimetry of the bright atoll Serpens X-1

Juri Poutanen, Anna Bobrikova, F. Ursini, G. Matt, S. Bianchi, M. Cocchi, Fiamma Capitanio, A. Tarana, Andrea Gnarini, R. Farinelli, Sergio Fabiani, Mason Ng, P. Kaaret, Swati Ravi
article en
6 citations

Abstract

We present simultaneous X-ray polarimetric and spectral observations of the bright atoll source Ser X-1 carried out with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), NICER, and NuSTAR . We obtain an upper limit of 2% (99% confidence level) on the polarization degree in the 2–8 keV energy band. We detect four type-I X-ray bursts, two of which during the IXPE observation. This is the first time that has IXPE observed type-I X-ray bursts, and it allows us to place an upper limit on their polarization degree; however, due to the limited total number of counts in each burst, we obtain a relatively high upper limit (80%). We confirm the presence of reflection features in the X-ray spectrum, notably a broad iron line. Fitting the data with a relativistic reflection model, we derive a disk inclination of 25°. The spectral and polarization properties are comparable with other atolls observed by IXPE, suggesting a similar accretion geometry, and the relatively low polarization is consistent with the low inclination.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 690
Roma Tre University (IT), Marshall Space Flight Center (US), University of Turku (FI), Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology (IT), Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari (IT), Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Marshall Space Flight Center, Goddard Space Flight Center
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Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
3.65
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