The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry
Astronomical X-ray polarimetry was first explored in the end of the 1960s by pioneering rocket instruments. The craze arising from the first discoveries of stellar and supernova remnant X-ray polarization led to the addition of X-ray polarimeters to early satellites. Unfortunately, the inadequacy of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Galaxies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/6/1/38 |
| _version_ | 1818263707850899456 |
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| author | Frédéric Marin |
| author_facet | Frédéric Marin |
| author_sort | Frédéric Marin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Astronomical X-ray polarimetry was first explored in the end of the 1960s by pioneering rocket instruments. The craze arising from the first discoveries of stellar and supernova remnant X-ray polarization led to the addition of X-ray polarimeters to early satellites. Unfortunately, the inadequacy of the diffraction and scattering technologies required to measure polarization with respect to the constraints driven by X-ray mirrors and detectors, coupled with long integration times, slowed down the field for almost 40 years. Thanks to the development of new, highly sensitive, compact X-ray polarimeters in the beginning of the 2000s, observing astronomical X-ray polarization has become feasible, and scientists are now ready to explore our high-energy sky thanks to modern X-ray polarimeters. In the forthcoming years, several X-ray missions (rockets, balloons, and satellites) will create new observational opportunities. Interest in astronomical X-ray polarimetry field has thus been renewed, and this paper presents for the first time a quantitative assessment, all based on scientific literature, of the growth of this interest. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:23:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-610ae968a6f543268d740109aac8d524 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:23:18Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Galaxies |
| spelling | doaj.art-610ae968a6f543268d740109aac8d5242022-12-22T00:14:33ZengMDPI AGGalaxies2075-44342018-03-01613810.3390/galaxies6010038galaxies6010038The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray PolarimetryFrédéric Marin0Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR 7550, 11 rue de l'Université, F-67000 Strasbourg, FranceAstronomical X-ray polarimetry was first explored in the end of the 1960s by pioneering rocket instruments. The craze arising from the first discoveries of stellar and supernova remnant X-ray polarization led to the addition of X-ray polarimeters to early satellites. Unfortunately, the inadequacy of the diffraction and scattering technologies required to measure polarization with respect to the constraints driven by X-ray mirrors and detectors, coupled with long integration times, slowed down the field for almost 40 years. Thanks to the development of new, highly sensitive, compact X-ray polarimeters in the beginning of the 2000s, observing astronomical X-ray polarization has become feasible, and scientists are now ready to explore our high-energy sky thanks to modern X-ray polarimeters. In the forthcoming years, several X-ray missions (rockets, balloons, and satellites) will create new observational opportunities. Interest in astronomical X-ray polarimetry field has thus been renewed, and this paper presents for the first time a quantitative assessment, all based on scientific literature, of the growth of this interest.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/6/1/38X-rayspolarimetrygeneralhistory of astronomy |
| spellingShingle | Frédéric Marin The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry Galaxies X-rays polarimetry general history of astronomy |
| title | The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry |
| title_full | The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry |
| title_fullStr | The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry |
| title_short | The Growth of Interest in Astronomical X-Ray Polarimetry |
| title_sort | growth of interest in astronomical x ray polarimetry |
| topic | X-rays polarimetry general history of astronomy |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/6/1/38 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fredericmarin thegrowthofinterestinastronomicalxraypolarimetry AT fredericmarin growthofinterestinastronomicalxraypolarimetry |