X-ray polarization study of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 349+2

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kashyap, Unnati, Maccarone, Thomas J., Ng, Mason, Pattie, Eliot C., Ravi, Swati, Marshall, Herman L.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Kashyap, Unnati
Maccarone, Thomas J.
Ng, Mason
Pattie, Eliot C.
Ravi, Swati
Marshall, Herman L.
author_facet Kashyap, Unnati
Maccarone, Thomas J.
Ng, Mason
Pattie, Eliot C.
Ravi, Swati
Marshall, Herman L.
contents We report the first X-ray polarimetric results of the neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) Z-source GX 349+2 using the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). We discovered that the X-ray source was polarized at PD = 1.1 +/- 0.3% (1-sigma errors) with a polarization angle of PA = 32 +/- 6 degree (1-sigma errors). Simultaneous Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observations show that the source transitioned through the normal branch (NB), flaring branch (FB), and soft apex (SA) of the Z-track during our IXPE observations. The X-ray spectro-polarimetry results suggest a source geometry comprising an accretion disk component, a blackbody representing the emission from the NS surface, and a Comptonized component. We discuss the accretion geometry of the Z source in light of the spectro-polarimetric results.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_00813
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle X-ray polarization study of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 349+2
Kashyap, Unnati
Maccarone, Thomas J.
Ng, Mason
Pattie, Eliot C.
Ravi, Swati
Marshall, Herman L.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
We report the first X-ray polarimetric results of the neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) Z-source GX 349+2 using the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). We discovered that the X-ray source was polarized at PD = 1.1 +/- 0.3% (1-sigma errors) with a polarization angle of PA = 32 +/- 6 degree (1-sigma errors). Simultaneous Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observations show that the source transitioned through the normal branch (NB), flaring branch (FB), and soft apex (SA) of the Z-track during our IXPE observations. The X-ray spectro-polarimetry results suggest a source geometry comprising an accretion disk component, a blackbody representing the emission from the NS surface, and a Comptonized component. We discuss the accretion geometry of the Z source in light of the spectro-polarimetric results.
title X-ray polarization study of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 349+2
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.00813