IXPE Detection of Highly Polarized X-Rays from the Magnetar 1E 1841-045

Abstract The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observed for the first time highly polarized X-ray emission from the magnetar 1E 1841−045, targeted after a burst-active phase in 2024 August. To date, IXPE has observed four other magnetars during quiescent periods, highlighting substantially different polarization properties. 1E 1841−045 exhibits a high, energy-dependent polarization degree, which increases monotonically from ≈15% at 2–3 keV up to ≈55% at 5.5–8 keV, while the polarization angle, aligned with the celestial north, remains fairly constant. The broadband spectrum (2–79 keV) obtained by combining simultaneous IXPE and NuSTAR data is well modeled by a blackbody and two power-law components. The unabsorbed 2–8 keV flux (≈2 × 10 −11 erg cm −2 s −1 ) is about 10% higher than that obtained from archival XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations. The polarization of the soft, thermal component does not exceed ≈25%, and may be produced by a condensed surface or a bombarded atmosphere. The intermediate power law is polarized at around 30%, consistent with predictions for resonant Compton scattering in the star magnetosphere; meanwhile, the hard power law exhibits a polarization degree exceeding 65%, pointing to a synchrotron/curvature origin.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Published
2025-05-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/adbffb
Citations
11
Primary Topic
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
12.70

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article

IXPE Detection of Highly Polarized X-Rays from the Magnetar 1E 1841-045

N. Rea, F. Coti Zelati, S. Mereghetti, Silvia Zane et al.
11 citations
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
12.70
article

IXPE Detection of Highly Polarized X-Rays from the Magnetar 1E 1841-045

N. Rea, F. Coti Zelati, S. Mereghetti, Silvia Zane, M. Imbrogno, P. Esposito, A. Borghese, Lorenzo Marra, Michela Rigoselli, Ruth Kelly, G. L. Israel, Fabio Muleri, Roberto Taverna, Davide De Grandis, Roberto Turolla
article en
11 citations

Abstract

Abstract The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observed for the first time highly polarized X-ray emission from the magnetar 1E 1841−045, targeted after a burst-active phase in 2024 August. To date, IXPE has observed four other magnetars during quiescent periods, highlighting substantially different polarization properties. 1E 1841−045 exhibits a high, energy-dependent polarization degree, which increases monotonically from ≈15% at 2–3 keV up to ≈55% at 5.5–8 keV, while the polarization angle, aligned with the celestial north, remains fairly constant. The broadband spectrum (2–79 keV) obtained by combining simultaneous IXPE and NuSTAR data is well modeled by a blackbody and two power-law components. The unabsorbed 2–8 keV flux (≈2 × 10 −11 erg cm −2 s −1 ) is about 10% higher than that obtained from archival XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations. The polarization of the soft, thermal component does not exceed ≈25%, and may be produced by a condensed surface or a bombarded atmosphere. The intermediate power law is polarized at around 30%, consistent with predictions for resonant Compton scattering in the star magnetosphere; meanwhile, the hard power law exhibits a polarization degree exceeding 65%, pointing to a synchrotron/curvature origin.

The Astrophysical Journal LettersVol. 985(2)
University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT), Institute of Space Sciences (ES), University of Padua (IT), Astronomical Observatory of Rome (IT), Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori di Pavia (IT), Brera Astronomical Observatory (IT), Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (ES), European Space Astronomy Centre (ES), Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology (IT), Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica di Milano (IT), University College London (GB)
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
12.70
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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