Tag

Ixpe

All articles tagged with #ixpe

space-and-astronomy9 days ago•53 min saved

Magnetar Lights Up Space-Time: First Clear Proof of Vacuum Birefringence

Observations of a highly magnetic magnetar (1E 1547-5408) with NASA’s IXPE show X-ray polarization nearly three times higher than typical neutron-star emission and aligned with the star’s magnetic field, providing the strongest evidence yet that vacuum birefringence occurs—empty space acting like a prism under extreme magnetic fields. This long-predicted quantum effect, rooted in Heisenberg and Euler’s work from 1936, tests quantum electrodynamics in nature’s most extreme laboratories and motivates future missions (e.g., GoSOX) to confirm the finding.

via Yahoo|

#ixpe #magnetar #polarization

science11 days ago•160 min saved

Magnetar’s polarized light tests quantum vacuum, solving a 90-year mystery

New observations of magnetar 1E 1547-5408 with IXPE and other telescopes show X-ray polarization about three times higher than standard models and aligned with the star’s magnetic field, providing strong evidence for vacuum birefringence — the idea that empty space behaves like a prism under ultra-strong magnetic fields and a prediction dating back to Heisenberg and Euler nearly 90 years ago; the findings test fundamental physics and future missions like GoSOX may help confirm the effect and illuminate the fabric of reality.

via Space|

#ixpe #magnetar #polarization

space5 months ago•72 min saved

IXPE reveals polarized portrait of ancient supernova RCW 86

NASA’s IXPE telescope has produced a new polarized image of RCW 86, the remnant of the supernova seen around AD 185, using X-ray polarization to probe the remnant’s outer rim and magnetic environment while noting slowed expansion in a low-density cavity.

via Space|

#ixpe #rcw-86 #sn-185

science7 months ago•3 min saved

NASA Achieves Historic Firsts in White Dwarf Star Observations

NASA's IXPE has captured detailed observations of the white dwarf star EX Hydrae, revealing new insights into its accretion process and magnetic field interactions, marking a significant advancement in high-energy astronomy.

via Indian Defence Review|

#ex-hydrae #ixpe #nasa

science7 months ago•2 min saved

NASA's IXPE Detects White Dwarf Star for the First Time

NASA's IXPE has for the first time used its X-ray polarization capabilities to study a white dwarf star, EX Hydrae, revealing details about the star's accretion process and magnetic field, which enhances understanding of energetic binary systems.

via NASA (.gov)|

#ex-hydrae #ixpe #nasa

science8 months ago•4 min saved

NASA IXPE Unveils the Mystery of Black Hole Jets

NASA's IXPE mission's longest observation of the Perseus Cluster has identified the origin of X-rays in a supermassive black hole's jet, confirming that the X-rays originate from inverse Compton scattering within the jet, primarily supporting the synchrotron self-Compton model, through polarization measurements combined with data from other observatories.

via NASA (.gov)|

#black-hole-jets #ixpe #nasa

science1 year ago•4 min saved

IXPE's Findings on 'Heartbeat Black Hole' Challenge Existing Theories

NASA's IXPE has measured a high polarization degree in the black hole IGR J17091-3624, challenging existing theories about the behavior of matter near black holes and suggesting the presence of phenomena like matter winds or fast plasma outflows.

via Phys.org|

#accretion-disk #black-hole #ixpe

science1 year ago•4 min saved

NASA IXPE's Black Hole Data Challenges Existing Theories

NASA's IXPE has measured a higher-than-expected polarization degree in the black hole IGR J17091-3624, challenging existing theories about the matter near black holes and suggesting new models involving winds or fast outflows in the corona.,

via NASA (.gov)|

#black-hole #igr-j17091-3624 #ixpe

science1 year ago•3 min saved

NASA's IXPE Unveils Secrets of Rare Pulsar

NASA's IXPE telescope helped scientists discover that X-rays from the rare pulsar system PSR J1023+0038 originate from the pulsar wind, challenging previous models and providing new insights into neutron star environments and particle acceleration.

via NASA (.gov)|

#ixpe #nasa #neutron-star

space-exploration1 year ago•2 min saved

NASA's Acting Administrator Janet Petro Announces June 6, 2025

Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro affirms commitment to the agency's mission, highlights recent achievements including the IXPE's astrophysics milestone, progress on the X-59 supersonic aircraft, successful vibration testing of the Roman Space Telescope, and ongoing scientific work on the ISS, while announcing workforce transition plans and emphasizing focus on international collaboration and technical excellence.

via NASA Watch|

#ixpe #janet-petro #nasa

science1 year ago•4 min saved

NASA's IXPE Reveals New Black Hole Structures

NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) has provided new insights into the structures surrounding a newly discovered stellar-mass black hole in the binary system Swift J1727.8-1613. Detected during a bright X-ray outburst in 2023, IXPE's observations have helped map the accretion disk and corona, revealing consistent geometry with other black hole systems. This research, published in The Astrophysical Journal and Astronomy & Astrophysics, marks a significant advancement in understanding black hole X-ray binary systems and demonstrates IXPE's crucial role in studying these cosmic phenomena.

via NASA|

#black-hole #ixpe #nasa

science-and-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

"NASA's IXPE Receives Top Honor in High-energy Astronomy"

NASA's IXPE team, led by retired astrophysicist Martin Weisskopf and Italian Space Agency principal investigator Paolo Soffitta, has been awarded the 2024 Bruno Rossi Prize by the American Astronomical Society for their development of IXPE, a mission that observes X-ray emissions from cosmic phenomena. The mission, launched in 2021, has been extended through at least September 2025 due to its success in studying high-energy radiation and supporting the study of cosmic events. This marks the fourth time NASA researchers have been honored with the Rossi Prize for their contributions to high-energy astrophysics.

via NASA|

#astrophysics #bruno-rossi-prize #high-energy-astronomy

science-and-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Maximizing 'Microquasar' Findings with NASA's IXPE"

NASA's IXPE spacecraft has provided new insights into the process of particle acceleration in extreme environments by studying a microquasar called SS 433. The spacecraft's observations revealed that the magnetic field near the acceleration region points in the direction the jets are moving, indicating a well-ordered magnetic field alignment. This finding challenges previous theories and suggests that the magnetic fields within powerful jets may be "trapped" and stretched when they collide with interstellar matter. The data could also help determine whether the same mechanism acts to align magnetic fields in outflows expelled by various phenomena in space.

via NASA|

#black-holes #ixpe #microquasar

space2 years ago•2 min saved

NASA Unveils Haunting Image of Ghostly Cosmic Hand in Outer Space

NASA has released stunning images of a pulsar wind nebula known as MSH 15-52, which resembles the "bones of a ghostly cosmic hand." These images, captured by NASA's telescopes, show a massive, four-fingered outstretched hand swirling around the Milky Way. The nebula is the remnants of a collapsed giant star that formed a neutron star 1,500 years ago. The images are helping scientists understand the behavior of pulsars and the magnetic field within the nebula.

via New York Post |

#cosmic-hand #ixpe #nasa

space-science2 years ago•5 min saved

"NASA's X-Ray Telescopes Unveil the Eerie 'Ghostly Cosmic Hand' in Space"

NASA's Chandra and IXPE telescopes have provided groundbreaking insights into the magnetic "bones" of the hand-shaped pulsar wind nebula, MSH 15-52. By combining data from both telescopes, astronomers have obtained the first map of the magnetic field in the nebula, revealing high levels of X-ray polarization and a remarkably straight and uniform magnetic field. The IXPE data also show a bright X-ray jet directed from the pulsar to the "wrist" of the hand, with the polarization increasing as the magnetic field lines straighten. This research sheds light on the formation and dynamics of pulsar wind nebulae and offers a unique glimpse into extreme physics conditions.

via SciTechDaily|

#ixpe #magnetic-field #nasa