Analyzing the data from X-ray polarimeters with Stokes parameters.
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| Title: | Analyzing the data from X-ray polarimeters with Stokes parameters. |
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| Authors: | Kislat, F.1 fkislat@physics.wustl.edu, Clark, B.1, Beilicke, M.1, Krawczynski, H.1 |
| Source: | Astroparticle Physics. Aug2015, Vol. 68, p45-51. 7p. |
| Subjects: | Polariscope, Stokes parameters, Accretion (Astrophysics), Black holes, Neutron stars, Electromagnetism |
| Abstract: | X-ray polarimetry promises to deliver unique information about the geometry of the inner accretion flow of astrophysical black holes and the nature of matter and electromagnetism in and around neutron stars. In this paper, we discuss the possibility to use Stokes parameters – a commonly used tool in radio, infrared, and optical polarimetry – to analyze the data from X-ray polarimeters such as scattering polarimeters and photoelectric effect polarimeters, which measure the linear polarization of the detected X-rays. Based on the azimuthal scattering angle (in the case of a scattering polarimeter) or the azimuthal component of the angle of the electron ejection (in the case of a photoelectric effect polarimeter), the Stokes parameters can be calculated for each event recorded in the detector. Owing to the additive nature of Stokes parameters, the analysis reduces to adding the Stokes parameters of the individual events and subtracting the Stokes parameters characterizing the background (if present). The main strength of this kind of analysis is that the errors on the Stokes parameters can be computed easily and are well behaved – in stark contrast of the errors on the polarization fraction and polarization direction. We demonstrate the power of the Stokes analysis by deriving several useful formulae, e.g. the expected error on the polarization fraction and polarization direction for a detection of NS signal and NBG background events, the optimal observation times of the signal and background regions in the presence of non-negligible background contamination of the signal, and the minimum detectable polarization (MDP) that can be achieved when following this prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Astroparticle Physics is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 102114156 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Analyzing the data from X-ray polarimeters with Stokes parameters. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kislat%2C+F%2E%22">Kislat, F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> fkislat@physics.wustl.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Clark%2C+B%2E%22">Clark, B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Beilicke%2C+M%2E%22">Beilicke, M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Krawczynski%2C+H%2E%22">Krawczynski, H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Astroparticle+Physics%22">Astroparticle Physics</searchLink>. Aug2015, Vol. 68, p45-51. 7p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polariscope%22">Polariscope</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stokes+parameters%22">Stokes parameters</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accretion+%28Astrophysics%29%22">Accretion (Astrophysics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Black+holes%22">Black holes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neutron+stars%22">Neutron stars</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electromagnetism%22">Electromagnetism</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: X-ray polarimetry promises to deliver unique information about the geometry of the inner accretion flow of astrophysical black holes and the nature of matter and electromagnetism in and around neutron stars. In this paper, we discuss the possibility to use Stokes parameters – a commonly used tool in radio, infrared, and optical polarimetry – to analyze the data from X-ray polarimeters such as scattering polarimeters and photoelectric effect polarimeters, which measure the linear polarization of the detected X-rays. Based on the azimuthal scattering angle (in the case of a scattering polarimeter) or the azimuthal component of the angle of the electron ejection (in the case of a photoelectric effect polarimeter), the Stokes parameters can be calculated for each event recorded in the detector. Owing to the additive nature of Stokes parameters, the analysis reduces to adding the Stokes parameters of the individual events and subtracting the Stokes parameters characterizing the background (if present). The main strength of this kind of analysis is that the errors on the Stokes parameters can be computed easily and are well behaved – in stark contrast of the errors on the polarization fraction and polarization direction. We demonstrate the power of the Stokes analysis by deriving several useful formulae, e.g. the expected error on the polarization fraction and polarization direction for a detection of NS signal and NBG background events, the optimal observation times of the signal and background regions in the presence of non-negligible background contamination of the signal, and the minimum detectable polarization (MDP) that can be achieved when following this prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Astroparticle Physics is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.astropartphys.2015.02.007 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 7 StartPage: 45 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Polariscope Type: general – SubjectFull: Stokes parameters Type: general – SubjectFull: Accretion (Astrophysics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Black holes Type: general – SubjectFull: Neutron stars Type: general – SubjectFull: Electromagnetism Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Analyzing the data from X-ray polarimeters with Stokes parameters. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kislat, F. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Clark, B. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Beilicke, M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Krawczynski, H. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 08 Text: Aug2015 Type: published Y: 2015 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09276505 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 68 Titles: – TitleFull: Astroparticle Physics Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
