The mission will study the origin of cosmic rays in the universe as well as the nature and role of black holes in the evolution of galaxies
On January 1, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) to study celestial objects.
The satellite was launched by ISRO’s PSLV-C58 Mission, which is the 60th mission of PSLV. “PSLV-C58 vehicle placed the satellite precisely into the intended orbit of 650 km with 6-degree inclination,” ISRO wrote on X. The space agency added that XPoSat’s health is normal and has begun generating power.
To understand this, let’s look at the two payloads that were carried by the satellite namely POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
POLIX will measure the degree and angle of polarisation in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 kilo electron volt (keV) photons originating from astronomical sources.
Polarisation refers to the orientation of oscillations such as light. X-rays, too, can be polarised. But it can happen when the paths of electrons moving close to the speed of light are bent by a magnetic field. Measuring polarisation can give information about the magnetic field from a source such as a star.
It can also tell us if a galactic centre was much brighter in the past. POLIX can be used to study the origin of cosmic rays in the universe, the nature of black holes, and the role of black holes in the evolution of galaxies, among others.
On the other hand, XSPECT will offer fast timing and excellent spectroscopic resolution in soft X-rays in the range of 0.8-15 keV. It can distinguish between two wavelengths emitted by objects.
This instrument, according to ISRO, is designed to observe a variety of sources. These include X-ray pulsars, black hole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron stars, active galactic nuclei (a small region at the centre of some galaxies), and magnetars (young and highly magnetized neutron stars).
Scientists are yet to understand the emissions mechanisms from various astronomical sources such as blackhole, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei and pulsar wind nebulae. The polarimetry measurements can provide information on the degree of polarisation and the angle of polarisation, which can help scientists better understand the emission processes from astronomical sources.
Additionally, the mission could play a pivotal role in building expertise in X-ray polarimetry in India.
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