Handling the Background in IXPE Polarimetric Data

Journal
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Baldini, Luca
•
•
Ehlert, Steven R.
•
•
Kim, Dawoon E.
•
•
O’Dell, Stephen L.
•
Ramsey, Brian D.
•
•
Sgrò, Carmelo
•
•
Tennant, Allyn F.
•
Weisskopf, Martin C.
DOI
Abstract
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a Small Explorer mission by NASA and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, launched on 2021 December 9, dedicated to investigating X-ray polarimetry allowing angular-, time-, and energy-resolved observations in the 2-8 keV energy band. IXPE is in the science observation phase since 2022 January; it is comprised of three identical telescopes with grazing-incidence mirrors, each one having in the focal plane a gas pixel detector. In this paper, we present a possible guideline to obtain an optimal background selection in polarimetric analysis, and a rejection strategy to remove instrumental background. This work is based on the analysis of IXPE observations, aiming to improve as much as possible the polarimetric sensitivity. In particular, the developed strategies have been applied as a case study to the IXPE observation of the 4U 0142+61 magnetar.
Volume
165
Issue
4
Start page
143
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0004-6256
Ads BibCode
2023AJ....165..143D
Rights
open.access
File(s)
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

2302.02927v1.pdf

Description
preprint
Size

2.85 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

b3964d8b37293c520d4cebbc9bdfe33c

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

Di_Marco_2023_AJ_165_143.pdf

Description
PDF editoriale
Size

2.53 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

8cacecf2a45bdba8ab8c3387ddcb4b31