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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| Acceso en línea: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.10477 |
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| _version_ | 1866910122376167424 |
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| author | Li, Biao-Peng Gao, Zhi-Fu Ma, Wen-Qi Zhang, Wei-Feng |
| author_facet | Li, Biao-Peng Gao, Zhi-Fu Ma, Wen-Qi Zhang, Wei-Feng |
| contents | The exceptionally high X-ray polarization recently detected in the magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 is considered a strong candidate signature of quantum electrodynamic vacuum birefringence, an interpretation that hinges critically on the source's viewing geometry. This stark contrast to the typically lower polarization degrees seen in other magnetars prompts a fundamental question: to what extent does viewing geometry, rather than intrinsic physics, drive the observed polarization diversity? To answer this, we perform a systematic, comparative geometrical analysis of two magnetars representing opposite extremes: the high-polarization source 1E 1547.0-5408 and the low-polarization source 1E 2259+586. The data are modelled within a unified Bayesian framework with both the classical rotating vector model (CRVM) and a twisted-magnetosphere extension (MRVM). For 1E 2259+586, both models favour a geometry with moderate magnetic inclination and viewing angles but a small impact angle. By combining the single-epoch phase-resolved fit with three-epoch phase-averaged position angle measurements, we find no significant secular evolution of the twist parameter λand derive a conservative upper limit of |Δλ|<0.79 at the 95 per cent level over 26 day. For 1E 1547.0-5408, the observed position angle curve is already well reproduced by the CRVM, while the MRVM shows no statistically significant advantage. When radio-informed priors are imposed, the posterior shifts towards a nearly aligned configuration consistent with the radio constraints.Both sources show no evidence for strong, static global twists in the current epoch. The observed polarization dichotomy arises from the confluence of viewing geometry, intrinsic surface emission physics, and magnetospheric propagation effects. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_10477 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Probing the Origin of Magnetar X-ray Polarization Diversity: A Multi-wavelength Geometrical Study of 1E 1547.0-5408 and 1E 2259+586 Li, Biao-Peng Gao, Zhi-Fu Ma, Wen-Qi Zhang, Wei-Feng High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena The exceptionally high X-ray polarization recently detected in the magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 is considered a strong candidate signature of quantum electrodynamic vacuum birefringence, an interpretation that hinges critically on the source's viewing geometry. This stark contrast to the typically lower polarization degrees seen in other magnetars prompts a fundamental question: to what extent does viewing geometry, rather than intrinsic physics, drive the observed polarization diversity? To answer this, we perform a systematic, comparative geometrical analysis of two magnetars representing opposite extremes: the high-polarization source 1E 1547.0-5408 and the low-polarization source 1E 2259+586. The data are modelled within a unified Bayesian framework with both the classical rotating vector model (CRVM) and a twisted-magnetosphere extension (MRVM). For 1E 2259+586, both models favour a geometry with moderate magnetic inclination and viewing angles but a small impact angle. By combining the single-epoch phase-resolved fit with three-epoch phase-averaged position angle measurements, we find no significant secular evolution of the twist parameter λand derive a conservative upper limit of |Δλ|<0.79 at the 95 per cent level over 26 day. For 1E 1547.0-5408, the observed position angle curve is already well reproduced by the CRVM, while the MRVM shows no statistically significant advantage. When radio-informed priors are imposed, the posterior shifts towards a nearly aligned configuration consistent with the radio constraints.Both sources show no evidence for strong, static global twists in the current epoch. The observed polarization dichotomy arises from the confluence of viewing geometry, intrinsic surface emission physics, and magnetospheric propagation effects. |
| title | Probing the Origin of Magnetar X-ray Polarization Diversity: A Multi-wavelength Geometrical Study of 1E 1547.0-5408 and 1E 2259+586 |
| topic | High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.10477 |