The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at last!
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-2023
Abstract
IXPE, the first observatory dedicated to imaging X-ray polarimetry, was launched on Dec 9, 2021 and is operating successfully. A partnership between NASA and the Italian Space Agencey (ASI) IXPE features three X-ray telescopes each comprised of a mirror module assembly with a polarization sensitive detector at its focus. An extending boom was deployed on orbit to provide the necessary 4 m focal length. A 3-axis-stabilized spacecraft provides power, attitude determination and control, and commanding. After one year of observation IXPE has measured statistically-significant polarization from almost all the classes of celestial sources that emit X-rays. In the following we describe the IXPE mission, reporting on its performance after 1.5 year of operations. We show the main astrophysical results which are outstanding for a SMEX mission.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering
Recommended Citation
Soffitta, P., Baldini, L., Baumgartner, W., Bellazzini, R., Bongiorno, S., Bucciantini, N., Costa, E., Dovčiak, M., Ehlert, S., Kaaret, P., Kolodziejczak, J., Latronico, L., Marin, F., Marscher, A., Marshall, H., Matt, G., Muleri, F., O’Dell, S., Poutanen, J., Ramsey, B., Romani, R., Slane, P., Tennant, A., Turolla, R., Weisskopf, M., Agudo, I., Antonelli, L., Bachetti, M., Bianchi, S., Bonino, R., Brez, A., Capitanio, F., & Castellano, S. (2023). The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at last!. Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering, 12678 https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677296