Gamma-ray polarization of synchrotron-self-Compton process from a highly relativistic jet

TL;DR

This paper analytically investigates the polarization properties of the synchrotron-self-Compton process in highly relativistic jets of gamma-ray bursts, revealing high polarization levels influenced by viewing angles and Klein-Nishina effects.

Contribution

It provides the first analytical derivation of photon polarization in the SSC process for different magnetic field configurations in relativistic jets.

Findings

SSC photons can be highly polarized, up to 24%.

Polarization peaks when viewed perpendicular to the magnetic field.

Klein-Nishina effects significantly enhance polarization in the 0.05-0.5 MeV band.

Abstract

The high polarization observed in the prompt phase of some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) arouses extensive studies on the emission mechanism. In this paper, we investigate the polarization properties of the synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC) process from a highly relativistic jet. A magnetic-dominated, baryon-loaded jet ejected from the central engine travels with a large Lorentz factor. Shells with slightly different velocities collide with each other and produce shocks. The shocks accelerate electrons to power-law distribution, and at the same time, magnify the magnetic field. Electrons move in the magnetic field and produce synchrotron photons. The synchrotron photons suffer from the Compton scattering (CS) process and then are detected by an observer locating slightly off-axis. We derive analytically the formulae of photon polarization in the SSC process in two magnetic configurations: magnetic field in the shock plane and perpendicular to the shock plane. We show that photons induced by the SSC process can be highly polarized, with the maximum polarization $\Pi \sim 24\%$ in the energy band $[0.5,5]$ MeV. The polarization depends on the viewing angles, peaking in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field. In the energy band $[0.05,0.5]$ MeV, in which most $\gamma$-ray polarimeters are active, the polarization is about twice of that in the Thomson limit, reaching to $\Pi\sim 20\%$. This implies that the Klein-Nishina effect, which is often neglected in literatures, should be carefully considered.