Preprint
X-ray Polarimetry of Accreting White Dwarfs: A Case Study of EX Hydrae
ArXiv.org
Cornell University
08/05/2025
DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2508.03412
Abstract
We present the first first X-ray polarization measurements of a white dwarf, the intermediate polar EX Hya. We measured significant polarization only in the 2 -- 3 keV energy band with a polarization degree of 8 percent 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 IXPE is 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 white dwarf's surface.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- X-ray Polarimetry of Accreting White Dwarfs: A Case Study of EX Hydrae
- Creators
- Sean J GundersonSwati RaviHerman L MarshallDustin K SwarmRichard IgnaceYael NazeDavid P HuenemoerderPragati Pradhan
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- ArXiv.org
- DOI
- 10.48550/arxiv.2508.03412
- ISSN
- 2331-8422
- Publisher
- Cornell University; Ithaca, New York
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 08/05/2025
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984944717002771
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