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White Dwarf Star studied by NASA's IXPE reveals accretion geometry
Summary
NASA's IXPE observed the white dwarf system EX Hydrae for nearly one week to measure X-ray polarization and examine the system's accretion geometry.
Content
An artist's concept shows a smaller white dwarf pulling material from a larger companion into a swirling accretion disk. NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarization Explorer (IXPE) was used to study a white dwarf and its X-ray polarization. IXPE focused nearly one week on the white dwarf system EX Hydrae. EX Hydrae is located in the constellation Hydra, about 200 light-years from Earth.
Observational details:
- The artist's concept illustrates a smaller white dwarf drawing material from a larger star into an accretion disk.
- IXPE spent nearly one week observing the white dwarf system EX Hydrae.
- EX Hydrae lies in the constellation Hydra, approximately 200 light-years away.
- IXPE's X-ray polarization measurements were used to examine the geometry of this energetic binary system.
- The imagery and description note this as the first use of IXPE to study a white dwarf star.
Summary:
The IXPE polarization data provided information about the geometry of an energetic binary system and how material is arranged as it is drawn onto the white dwarf. Undetermined at this time.
