Magnetic turbulence in supernova remnants: perspective for IXPE polarimeter

Abstract

Abstract Supernova remnants (SNRs) are well known sources of the non-thermal radiation, particle acceleration and magnetic field generation and amplification. Synchrotron radiation of the accelerated electrons in the magnetic field is an important emission mechanism in SNRs that can dominate in radio and X-ray energy bands. Turbulent magnetic field yields to formation of the special inhomogeneous (clumpy) structure in the SNR synchrotron X-ray images. This structure could differ significantly on the SNR polarization maps for different types of the magnetic turbulence. A new family of the gas pixel detector X-ray polarimeters that are supposed to have good sensitivity and angular resolution should be well suited for SNR polarimetry. IXPE (NASA) will be the first polarimeter of this kind. Lately a model IXPE synchrotron polarization images of Tycho SNR were simulated in the 3 — 8 keV energy band. It was shown that IXPE observation time of ~ 1 Ms should be enough to distinguish characteristic features that are specific for some types of the magnetic turbulence. We perform simulations of Tycho SNR polarization maps for a wider set of energy bands in order to determine the most suitable energy range for study of the SNR turbulent magnetic field using IXPE. The dependence of the polarization degree on the photon energy is accurately considered in the simulations. IXPE background influence on the observations of Tycho SNR is also discussed here together with possible ways of data processing and interpretation reducing this effect.