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Further comments on the effects of vacuum birefringence on the polarization of X-rays emitted from magnetic neutron starsThe birefringence of the vacuum in the presence of strong (of the order of 1 teragauss) magnetic fields will in general affect the polarization of X-rays propagating through these fields. Two of the four Stokes parameters will vary so rapidly with wavelength as to be 'washed out' and unobservable, but the remaining two parameters will be unaffected. These results show that one conclusion of an earlier work is incorrect: Polarized X-ray emission from the surface of a magnetic neutron star will not in general be completely depolarized by the effects of vacuum birefringence. In particular, this birefringence has no effect on the linear polarization of cyclotron emission from the poles of magnetic neutron stars, and a similar result holds for synchrotron emission. More general cases of the propagation of polarized X-rays in magnetic fields are also discussed.
Document ID
19790042702
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Chanan, G. A.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Novick, R.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY, United States)
Silver, E. H.
(Columbia University New York, N.Y., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
79A26715
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-22408
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-008-102
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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