Polarized Gamma-Ray Emission from the Galactic Black Hole Cygnus X-1
| dc.contributor.author | Laurent, P. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Rodriguez, J. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Wilms, J. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Bel, M. Cadolle | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pottschmidt, Katja | |
| dc.contributor.author | Grinberg, V. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-09-21T19:11:15Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-09-21T19:11:15Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011-03-24 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Because of their inherently high flux allowing the detection of clear signals, black hole x-ray binaries are interesting candidates for polarization studies, even if no polarization signals have been observed from them before. Such measurements would provide further detailed insight into these sources’ emission mechanisms. We measured the polarization of the gamma-ray emission from the black hole binary system Cygnus X-1 with the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory Imager on Board the Integral Satellite (INTEGRAL/IBIS) telescope. Spectral modeling of the data reveals two emission mechanisms: The 250- to 400-keV (kilo–electron volt) data are consistent with emission dominated by Compton scattering on thermal electrons and are weakly polarized. The second spectral component seen in the 400-keV to 2-MeV band is by contrast strongly polarized, revealing that the MeV emission is probably related to the jet first detected in the radio band. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | ISGRI has been realized and maintained in flight by CEA-Saclay/Irfu with the support of CNES. Based on observations with INTEGRAL, an ESA project with instruments and science data centre funded by ESA member states (especially the PI countries: Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain), Czech Republic and Poland, and with the participation of Russia and the USA. We acknowledge partial funding from the European Commission under contract ITN 215212 "Black Hole Universe" and from the Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft und Technologie under Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt grant 50 OR 1007. K. Pottschmidt acknowledges support by NASA's INTEGRAL Guest Observer grants NNX08AE84G, NNX08AY24G, and NX09AT28G. We thank S. Corbel for useful comments. | en_US |
| dc.description.uri | https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1200848 | en_US |
| dc.format.extent | 13 pages | en_US |
| dc.genre | journal articles | en_US |
| dc.genre | postprints | en_US |
| dc.identifier | doi:10.13016/m28vry-80gs | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Laurent, P., J. Rodriguez, J. Wilms, M. Cadolle Bel, K. Pottschmidt, and V. Grinberg. “Polarized Gamma-Ray Emission from the Galactic Black Hole Cygnus X-1.” Science 332, no. 6028 (April 22, 2011): 438–39. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200848. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200848 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11603/29799 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | en_US |
| dc.publisher | AAAS | en_US |
| dc.relation.isAvailableAt | The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | UMBC Center for Space Sciences and Technology | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | UMBC Faculty Collection | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | UMBC Physics Department | |
| dc.rights | This item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author. | en_US |
| dc.title | Polarized Gamma-Ray Emission from the Galactic Black Hole Cygnus X-1 | en_US |
| dc.type | Text | en_US |
| dcterms.creator | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4656-6881 | en_US |