X-ray polarization of Z-type neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries -- II. Spectropolarimetric analysis
Z型中子星低质量X射线双星的X射线偏振 II. 能谱偏振分析
IXPE has provided for the first time detailed energy- and time-resolved X-ray polarimetry of Z-type neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (NS-LMXBs) as they move along their color-color diagrams (CCDs). These sources can reach the highest polarization observed for NS-LXMBs in the 2-8 keV range when they move along the horizontal branch. In a previous paper, we characterized the spectral state of a sample of Z-sources using the CCD and estimated the polarization with model-independent analysis. Here, we present detailed spectropolarimetric analysis for each source on each branch using data from IXPE, NICER, and NuSTAR. The continuum X-ray emission of all the sources is well described with a combination of thermal accretion disk emission plus a harder Comptonized component. In addition, reflection features, in particular the relativistically broadened Fe line, are observed for our sources, except GX 5-1. For most of the sources and branches, the main contribution to the X-ray emission and polarization is due to Comptonization: moving from the horizontal branch (HB) to the normal branch (NB), the polarization degree (PD) in the 2-8 keV band varies from about 6% to 3-4%, while the PD is loosely constrained in the flaring branch (FB), due to the shorter exposures. These PD values are significantly higher than theoretical expectations for typical spreading or boundary layer configurations. The polarization of the disk is generally lower (below 3%) but still higher than predictions for an electron scattering-dominated, plane-parallel atmosphere above the disk observed at the corresponding inclination. Moreover, the polarization angle (PA) of the disk seems to be significantly misaligned and not perpendicular to that of Comptonization. We find no correlation between the polarization signal and the inclination, nor with the contribution of reflected photons throughout the Z-track.
展开 ▾首次统一模型分分支能谱偏振拟合,发现康普顿化偏振普遍高于理论预期,且盘偏振角与康普顿化严重不对齐,挑战标准几何模型。
在Part I(Gnarini+ 2025)模型无关分析基础上,本文首次对多个Z源进行分支分辨的能谱偏振拟合,通过统一基线模型(包含盘、康普顿化及反射成分)揭示了各成分的偏振特性。与过去单源工作(Farinelli+ 2023、Cocchi+ 2023、La Monaca+ 2024b)相比,本文系统考虑了反射偏振贡献,发现盘偏振普遍高于纯电子散射大气预期,且PA与康普顿化成分非正交。这些结果挑战了简单的边界层/扩散层图像,推动了对康普顿化区几何的重新思考。未来eXTP及更精细的理论模型(如Farinelli & Cocchi 2025、Podgorný+ 2025)将有助于完整描绘Z源偏振行为。