The gas pixel detector as a solar X-ray polarimeter and imager

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the gas pixel detector (GPD) as a tool for observing solar X-ray emissions, aiming to improve understanding of solar flare magnetic fields through polarimetric measurements.

Contribution

It introduces the application of the GPD for solar X-ray polarimetry and imaging, expanding its use beyond astrophysical sources to our Sun.

Findings

GPD can be employed for solar X-ray observations.

Potential to measure polarization in solar flares.

Enhances understanding of solar magnetic activity.

Abstract

The Sun is the nearest astrophysical source with a very intense emission in the X-ray band. The study of energetic events, such as solar flares, can help us to understand the behaviour of the magnetic field of our star. There are in the literature numerous studies published about polarization predictions, for a wide range of solar flares models involving the emission from thermal and/or non-thermal processes, but observations in the X-ray band have never been exhaustive. The gas pixel detector (GPD) was designed to achieve X-ray polarimetric measurements as well as X-ray images for far astrophysical sources. Here we present the possibility to employ this instrument for the observation of our Sun in the X-ray band.