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Exploring the High-Energy Universe: NASA’s IXPE and ISRO’s XPoSat

The cosmos is a spectacular realm filled with extreme phenomena that light up the universe in ways invisible to the human eye. Among the most fascinating of these are X-rays emitted by some of the universe’s most energetic objects — black holes, neutron stars, supernova remnants, and the hot gas between galaxies. Detecting and studying these X-rays can reveal secrets about the structure, composition, and evolution of the cosmos. This is where cutting-edge X-ray observatories come into play. Today, we focus on two remarkable missions: NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) and ISRO’s XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite). Both missions are designed to open new windows into the high-energy universe, but each brings unique capabilities and goals.

NASA’s IXPE: Opening the Polarization Window in X-rays

Launched on December 9, 2021, NASA’s IXPE is the first mission dedicated to measuring the polarization of cosmic X-rays. Polarization is a property of light that describes the orientation of light waves as they travel. While intensity and energy tell us how much X-ray radiation is emitted and its energy distribution, polarization provides crucial information about the geometry, magnetic fields, and physical processes at the source.

IXPE is a collaboration between NASA and Italy’s ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana). The spacecraft carries three identical telescopes, each equipped with innovative detectors capable of measuring the polarization of incoming X-rays with unprecedented precision. Unlike traditional X-ray telescopes that focus solely on imaging or spectroscopy, IXPE can measure the subtle alignment of X-ray light waves, offering a completely new dimension to our understanding of energetic cosmic sources.

The scientific goals of IXPE are diverse and ambitious. By studying the polarization of X-rays from objects like neutron stars, black holes, pulsar wind nebulae, and supernova remnants, IXPE can probe the geometry of extreme magnetic fields and the physical mechanisms driving high-energy emission. For example, in neutron stars, the alignment of X-ray polarization can reveal the structure of the magnetic field, which can be trillions of times stronger than Earth’s. Around black holes, IXPE can help scientists understand how matter behaves in the intense gravitational field, shedding light on the physics of accretion disks and relativistic jets.

IXPE’s observations are not limited to exotic objects. It can also study nearby galaxies and clusters of galaxies, providing insights into the dynamics of hot gas and the role of magnetic fields in shaping large-scale cosmic structures. In essence, IXPE extends humanity’s eyes into the high-energy universe, revealing the invisible threads of magnetic fields and energetic particles that sculpt the cosmos.

ISRO’s XPoSat: India’s Foray into X-ray Polarimetry

India’s space agency, ISRO, has been steadily advancing its capabilities in space science, and XPoSat represents a significant milestone in this journey. The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, launched on October 29, 2021, is India’s first dedicated mission for X-ray polarimetry. XPoSat is designed to measure the polarization of X-rays emitted by bright cosmic sources such as pulsars, black hole binaries, and active galactic nuclei.

XPoSat carries two main scientific instruments: the X-ray Polarimeter (XPo) and the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC). The XPo instrument is designed to measure the polarization of X-rays in the energy range of 8–30 keV, while the LAXPC performs spectroscopic studies of cosmic sources in the energy range of 3–80 keV. Together, these instruments provide complementary capabilities, allowing scientists to study the intensity, energy spectrum, timing, and polarization of X-rays from the same sources.

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