Kavli Affiliate: David P. Huenemoerder
| First 5 Authors: Sean J. Gunderson, Sean J. Gunderson, , ,
| Summary:
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 $3sigma$
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.
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