Astrophysical X-Ray Polarization

Abstract

X-ray polarimetry is now providing a new way to look at the high energy sky. The addition of two observables, polarization fraction and angle, reveals crucial new information on the structure of accretion flows and magnetic fields in astrophysical systems. Here, we review the basic physical processes that produce polarized X-rays in astrophysical contexts. Then, we briefly describe the physical processes used to measure X-ray polarization and the detectors that have been flown or are under construction.