Multi-wavelength Polarimetry of Isolated Neutron Stars

TL;DR

This paper reviews multi-wavelength polarisation measurements of isolated neutron stars and their nebulae, highlighting their magnetic environments and discussing future observational prospects.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of non-radio polarisation observations of isolated neutron stars and outlines future research directions with upcoming facilities.

Findings

Polarisation measurements reveal magnetic field properties of neutron stars.

Multi-wavelength data enhances understanding of neutron star magnetospheres.

Future observations will improve polarization data quality and coverage.

Abstract

Isolated Neutron Stars are known to be endowed with extreme magnetic fields, whose maximum intensity ranges from 10^12 to 10^15 G, which permeates their magnetospheres. Their surrounding environment is also strongly magnetised, especially in the compact nebulae powered by the relativistic wind from young neutron stars. The radiation from isolated neutron stars and their surrounding nebulae is, thus, supposed to bring a strong polarisation signature. Measuring the neutron star polarisation brings important information on the properties of their magnetosphere and of their highly magnetised environment. Being the most numerous class of isolated neutron stars, polarisation measurements have been traditionally carried out for radio pulsars, hence in the radio band. In this review, I summarise multi-wavelength linear polarisation measurements obtained at wavelengths other than radio both for pulsars and other types of isolated neutron stars and outline future perspectives with the upcoming observing facilities.