Simulation of a Xe-based X-ray Polarimeter at 10-30 keV

TL;DR

This paper simulates a xenon-based gas pixel detector capable of measuring X-ray polarization in the 10-30 keV range, addressing a gap in existing detection methods for higher energies.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation model for a Xe-based detector at 10-30 keV and verifies its emission angle distribution with modified Geant4 electromagnetic models.

Findings

Modulation factor of 43% at 20 keV

Good agreement with modified emission angle sampling

Potential for polarization detection at higher X-ray energies

Abstract

Polarization detection of X-rays is a non-negligible topic to astrophysical observation. Many polarization detection methods have been well developed for X-rays in the energy range below 10~keV, while the detection at 10-30~keV is rarely discussed. This paper presents a simulation study of a Xe-based gas pixel detector, which can achieve the polarization detection of X-rays at 10-30~keV. To verify the emission angle distribution of photoelectrons, different electromagnetic models in Geant4 were investigated. After a necessary modification by considering the missing factor when sampling the emission angle, a good agreement can be achieved. Moreover, the detection capability of 20~keV polarized photons was discussed and the modulation factor could be 43\%.