Optical and X-ray Polarization from Turbulence and Shocks in Blazars

X-ray polarization has been detected by IXPE from high-synchrotron-peak (HSP) blazars. The degree of polarization tends to be several times higher at X-ray than at optical frequencies. This can be explained if the emission results from encounters between turbulent plasma and shock waves. Various versions of models incorporating these features predict different relationships of variations between the two wavebands. The author will present simulations of the flux and polarization light curves at various frequencies in order to make specific predictions that can test the models with IXPE and multi-wavelength observations.

This research is supported in part by National Science Foundation grant AST-2108622.