X-ray polarization from accreting white dwarfs and associated systems

Abstract

We present our results of Monte-Carlo simulations of polarized Compton X-rays from magnetic cataclysmic variables, with realistic density, temperature and velocity structures in the accretion flow. Our study has shown that the X-ray linear polarization may reach about 8% for systems with high accretion rates viewed at a high viewing inclination angle. This value is roughly twice the maximum value obtained by previous studies which assumed a cold, static emission region with a uniform density. We also investigate the X-ray polarization properties of ultra-compact double-degenerate binaries for the unipolar-inductor and direct-impact accretor models. Our study has shown negligible X-ray polarization for the unipolar-induction model. However, the direct-impact accretor model may give X-ray polarization levels similar to that predicted for the magnetic cataclysmic variables.