Graduate Student Seminar with Ephraim Gau on Magnetars

Magnetars are neutron stars with ultra-strong magnetic fields, with prominent emissions in the X-ray band. Polarization measurements can probe the physics of the surfaces and magnetic fields of these neutron stars. I will share on the (first-ever!) detection of polarized X-rays from a magnetar, 4U 0142+61 (isn't that an easy name to remember), through observations with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, as well as implications of our findings. I may talk about other stuff as well.