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First result of the IXPE observations of the supernova remnants Cas A, Tycho, and SN 1006

Presentation #207.03 in the session X-ray Polarimetry Results and Opportunities.

Published onJul 01, 2023
First result of the IXPE observations of the supernova remnants Cas A, Tycho, and SN 1006

Young supernova remnants (SNRs) are among the most important sources of non-thermal X-rays in the sky and the likely sources of most of Galactic cosmic rays. However, there are still many open questions on the physical conditions at their shock fronts, such as the magnetic field orientation and turbulence level. The X-ray synchrotron emission from their shock fronts has been expected to be polarized for some time, with the polarization degree and direction providing unique constraints on the turbulence level and morphology of the magnetic field. These pieces of information play a crucial role in theories of diffusive shock acceleration with efficient magnetic field amplification in SNRs. The NASA/ASI Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), that launched in December 2021, is the first mission entirely dedicated to X-ray polarimetry. SNRs are a prime example of the novelties that IXPE brings to astrophysics, as its imaging-capable detectors allow us to perform spatially resolved X-ray polarimetry of extended sources with a spatial resolution of 30”. We report on the first results of the IXPE observation of the core-collapse SNR Cas A - that was the first target of the IXPE scientific campaign – and the Ia SNRs Tycho and SN 1006.

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