Abstract
X-ray polarimetry has long been considered the ‘holy grail’ of X-ray astronomy. Fortunately, after a silence of more than 40 years, the field is now rejuvenating. In fact, an X-ray polarimeter onboard a Cube-sat nano-satellite has been recently successfully operated. IXPE, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, will be launched in 2021 while eXTP, containing a larger version of IXPE, is expected to be launched in 2027. Although at present it is difficult to predict the discoveries that, given their exploratory nature, IXPE and eXTP will obtain, the path for a follow-up mission can already be envisaged. In this paper we describe the scientific goals of such a follow-up mission, and present a medium-size mission profile that can accomplish this task.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1109-1141 |
Number of pages | 33 |
Journal | Experimental Astronomy |
Volume | 51 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 10 May 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Jun 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Open access funding provided by Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica within the CRUI-CARE Agreement.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Funding
Open access funding provided by Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica within the CRUI-CARE Agreement.
Keywords
- Astrophysics
- Polarimetry
- X-rays
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science