A polarimetrically oriented X-ray stare at the accreting pulsar EXO 2030+375

Journal article

Accreting X-ray pulsars (XRPs) are presumably ideal targets for polarization measurements, as their high magnetic field strength is expected to polarize the emission up to a polarization degree of ~80%. However, such expectations are being challenged by recent observations of XRPs with the Imaging X-ray Polarimeter Explorer (IXPE). Here we report on the results of yet another XRP, EXO 2030+375, observed with IXPE and contemporarily monitored with Insight-HXMT and SRG/ART-XC. In line with recent results obtained with IXPE for similar sources, analysis of the EXO 2030+375 data returns a low polarization degree of 0%-3% in the phase-averaged study and variation in the range 2%-7% in the phase-resolved study. Using the rotating vector model we constrain the geometry of the system and obtain a value for the magnetic obliquity of ~$60^{\circ}$. Considering also the estimated pulsar inclination of ~$130^{\circ}$, this indicates that the magnetic axis swings close to the observer line of sight. Our joint polarimetric, spectral and timing analysis hint to a complex accreting geometry where magnetic multipoles with asymmetric topology and gravitational light bending significantly affect the observed source behavior.Comment: A&A accepted. Proofs versio

Authors: Malacaria, C; Heyl, J; Doroshenko, V; Tsygankov, SS; Poutanen, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: EDP Sciences
• Journal: Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Volume: 675
• Pages: A29-A29
• Publication date: 2023-05-25
• Acceptance date: 2023-05-10
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202346581
• EISSN: 1432-0746
• ISSN: 0004-6361
• Language: English
• Keywords: Astronomy; Astrophysics; Polarimetry; Polarization (electrochemistry); Physics; Scattering; Optics; Magnetic field; Line-of-sight; Polarimeter; Pulsar; Degree of polarization