Unlocking the Future of X-Ray Polarimetry with IXPE: Lessons Learned and Next Steps
This paper discusses issues encountered during the early development of the instrument on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), a NASA–ASI Small Explorer mission launched on 9 December 2021. IXPE has observed about 100 sources, yielding meaningful polarimetry for most of them. An on-board calibration system mitigated most non-ideal detector behaviors during operations. Data from the on-board polarized and unpolarized X-ray sources are routinely ingested by the flight pipeline to correct the instrument response in a manner transparent to users. Based on its scientific return and payload health, the IXPE mission has been extended through 2028. The lessons learned are informing the design of next-generation X-ray polarimetry missions, as discussed elsewhere in these conferences.
Authors
- P. Soffitta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7781-4104)
- E. Del Monte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3013-6334)
- A. Trois (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3180-6002)
- Riccardo Ferrazzoli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1074-8605)
- Sergio Fabiani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1533-0283)
- Fabio La Monaca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8916-4156)
- Alda Rubini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0282-6952)
- Enrico Costa
- Fabio Muleri
- Alessandro Di Marco
Institutions
- National Institute for Astrophysics (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Particles
- Published
- 2026-01-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/particles9010002
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 27.96
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Agenzia Spaziale Italiana
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
- Marshall Space Flight Center
- Goddard Space Flight Center