Journal article
X-Ray Polarimetry of Accreting White Dwarfs: A Case Study of EX Hydrae
The Astrophysical journal, Vol.993(2), 248
11/10/2025
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae11b5
Abstract
We present the first first X-ray polarization measurements of a white dwarf (WD), the intermediate polar EX Hya. We measured significant polarization only in the 2–3 keV energy band with a polarization degree of 8% at a 3σ significance. No significant polarization was detected above 3 keV, which we attribute to the higher energy bands having lower signal to noise. We found that the scattering surface detected by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer appears to be nearly perpendicular to the optical scattering plane, showing that the X-ray scattering surface is the WD and close to the base of the accretion column. Finally, we show how the polarization can be used to estimate the height of the accretion shock above the WD’s surface.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- X-Ray Polarimetry of Accreting White Dwarfs: A Case Study of EX Hydrae
- Creators
- Sean J. Gunderson - Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySwati Ravi - Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyHerman L. Marshall - Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDustin K. Swarm - University of Iowa Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa City, IA, USARichard Ignace - East Tennessee State UniversityYael Nazé - University of LiègeDavid P. Huenemoerder - Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPragati Pradhan - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Astrophysical journal, Vol.993(2), 248
- DOI
- 10.3847/1538-4357/ae11b5
- ISSN
- 0004-637X
- eISSN
- 1538-4357
- Publisher
- The American Astronomical Society
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- 80NSSC25K0093 / NASA ∣ Science Mission Directorate (SMD) (https://doi.org/10.13039/100016465)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/10/2025
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9985027420802771
Metrics
8 Record Views