NASA's IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer) telescope has captured the first polarized X-ray image of supernova remnant SN1006. The new results expand scientists' understanding of the relationship between magnetic fields and the streams of energetic particles produced by exploding stars.

This new image of supernova remnant SN1006 combines data from NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The red, green and blue elements reflect the low-, medium- and high-energy X-rays detected by Chandra, respectively. Shown in purple in the upper left corner are IXPE data measuring the polarization of X-ray light, along with lines representing the outward motion of the remnant's magnetic field. Source: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO (Chandra); NASA/MSFC/Nanjing University/P.Zhou et al. (IXPE); IR: NASA/JPL/CalTech/Spitzer; ImageProcessing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J.Schmidt

"Magnetic fields are extremely difficult to measure, but IXPE provides us with an effective way to detect them," said Dr. Zhou Ping, an astrophysicist at Nanjing University and lead author of a new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal. "We can now see that SN1006's magnetic field is turbulent but also exhibits organized directions."

SN1006 is located in the constellation Wolffang about 6,500 light-years from Earth. It is the remnant after a giant explosion. This explosion may have occurred when two white dwarfs merged, or it may have been a white dwarf that absorbed too much mass from a companion star. Originally discovered in the spring of 1006 AD by observers from China, Japan, Europe and the Arab world, its light was visible to the naked eye for at least three years. Modern astronomers still consider it the brightest stellar event ever recorded.

Since the beginning of modern observations, researchers have discovered the strange dual structure of this remnant, which is clearly different from other round supernova remnants. It can also identify bright "limbs" or edges in X-ray and gamma-ray bands.

"Because IXPE combines X-ray polarization sensitivity with the ability to spatially resolve emission regions, close X-ray bright supernova remnants like SN1006 are well suited for IXPE measurements," said Douglas Swartz, a Universities Space Research Association researcher at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "This combined capability is critical for locating cosmic ray acceleration points."

Previous X-ray observations of SN1006 demonstrated for the first time that supernova remnants can radically accelerate electrons, and helped identify the rapidly expanding nebula around the exploding star as the birthplace of high-energy cosmic rays, which can travel at nearly the speed of light.

Scientists speculate that the unique structure of SN1006 is related to the direction of its magnetic field, and infer that the supernova explosion waves in the northeast and southwest directions are consistent with the direction of the magnetic field and can accelerate high-energy particles more effectively.

Dr. Yang Yizhong, a co-author of the paper and a high-energy astrophysicist at the University of Hong Kong, said that the new findings of IXPE can help verify and clarify these theories.

Dr Yang said: "The polarization properties we obtained through spectropolarization analysis are in good agreement with results from other methods and X-ray observatories, which highlights the reliability and power of IXPE. For the first time, we are able to map the magnetic field structure of a supernova remnant at higher energies with greater detail and precision - allowing us to better understand the processes that drive the acceleration of these particles."

The researchers say the results demonstrate a link between magnetic fields and the outflow of energetic particles from the remnant. According to IXPE's findings, the magnetic field in SN1006's shell is somewhat disorganized, but still has a preferred direction. As the shock wave from the original explosion passes through the surrounding gas, the magnetic field aligns with the motion of the shock wave. The charged particles are trapped by the magnetic field around the origin of the explosion, where they rapidly accelerate. These accelerated high-energy particles in turn transfer energy, keeping the magnetic field strong and turbulent.

Since its launch in December 2021, IXPE has observed three supernova remnants - Cassiopeia A, Tycho and now SN1006, helping scientists more fully understand the origins and processes of the magnetic fields surrounding these phenomena.

The scientists were surprised to find that SN1006 was more polarized than the other two supernova remnants, but all three showed magnetic fields oriented outward from the center of the explosion. As researchers continue to explore the IXPE data, they are reorienting their understanding of how particles accelerate in extreme objects like these.

Compiled source: ScitechDaily