Related papers: Vacuum birefringence in the polarized X-ray emission of a radio magnetar

Vacuum birefringence in the polarized X-ray emission of a radio magnetar

URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.19446v1
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:01:21 GMT
Title: Vacuum birefringence in the polarized X-ray emission of a radio magnetar
Authors: Rachael E. Stewart, Hoa Dinh Thi, George Younes, Marcus E. Lower, Matthew G. Baring, Michela Negro, Fernando Camilo, Joel B. Coley, Alice K. Harding, Wynn C. G. Ho, Chin-Ping Hu, Philip Kaaret, Paul Scholz, Alex Van Kooten, Zorawar Wadiasingh,
Abstract summary: The quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory predicts that the quantum vacuum becomes birefringent in the presence of ultra-strong magnetic fields.<n>Here, we report phase- and energy-resolved X-ray polarization measurements of the radio-emitting magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408.
Score: 27.308408027453012
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract: The quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory predicts that the quantum vacuum becomes birefringent in the presence of ultra-strong magnetic fields -- a fundamental effect yet to be directly observed. Magnetars, isolated neutron stars with surface fields exceeding $10^{14}$~G, provide unique astrophysical laboratories to probe this elusive prediction. Here, we report phase- and energy-resolved X-ray polarization measurements of the radio-emitting magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 obtained with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), in coordination with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) and Parkes/Murriyang radio observations. We detect a high phase-averaged polarization degree of 65% at 2 keV, where the surface thermal emission is dominant, rising to nearly 80% at certain rotational phases, and remaining at $\gtrsim40\%$ throughout the radio beam crossing. We also observe a strong decrease in polarization from 2~keV to 4~keV. Detailed atmospheric radiative transfer modeling, coupled with geometrical constraints from radio polarization, demonstrate that the observed polarization behavior cannot be consistently explained without invoking magnetospheric vacuum birefringence (VB) influences. These observational findings combined with the theoretical results represent compelling evidence for naturally occurring quantum VB. This work marks a significant advance toward confirming this hallmark prediction of QED and lays the foundation for future tests of strong-field quantum physics using next-generation X-ray polarimeters.

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