Gamma-ray Polarimetry of Transient Sources with POLAR

TL;DR

POLAR is a dedicated gamma-ray polarimeter designed to measure the polarization of transient sources like Gamma-Ray Bursts, overcoming challenges of low signal-to-noise and systematic errors through careful calibration and analysis methods.

Contribution

This paper introduces the POLAR instrument and its calibration, along with two analysis methods to improve polarization measurement sensitivity for transient gamma-ray sources.

Findings

POLAR observed 55 Gamma-Ray Bursts in orbit.

14 bursts allowed for polarization constraints.

Two analysis methods were developed and described.

Abstract

Polarization measurements of the gamma-ray component of transient sources are of great scientific interest, they are however, also highly challenging. This is due to the typical low signal to noise and the potential for significant systematic errors. Both issues are made worse by the transient nature of the events which prompt one to observe a large portion of the sky. The POLAR instrument was designed as a dedicated transient gamma-ray polarimeter. It made use of a large effective area and large field of view to maximize the signal to noise as well as the number of observed transients. Additionally, it was calibrated carefully on ground and in orbit to mitigate systematic errors. The main scientific goal of POLAR was to measure the polarization of the prompt emission of Gamma-Ray Bursts. During the 6 months operation in orbit POLAR observed 55 Gamma-Ray Bursts of which 14 were bright enough to allow for constraining polarization measurements. In this chapter we mainly discuss about the POLAR instrument along with the calibration and analysis procedures. Two analyses are described, the first is a straightforward method previously implemented in polarization measurements, whilst the second was developed to improve the sensitivity and to mitigate several of the issues with the former. Both methods are described in detail along with information on how these can be extended to perform time and energy resolved polarization measurements.