X-ray and Radio campaign of the Z-source GX 340+0: discovery of X-ray polarization and its implications

TL;DR

This study reports the first detection of X-ray polarization in the neutron star binary GX 340+0, revealing insights into the emission geometry and spectral components through multiwavelength observations including IXPE, AstroSat, and radio data.

Contribution

It presents the discovery of X-ray polarization in GX 340+0 and analyzes its energy dependence and spectral component origins, providing new constraints on accretion geometry.

Findings

Significant X-ray polarization degree of 4.02% in 2-8 keV.

Energy-dependent polarization angle variation suggests different emission regions.

Radio observations indicate a spectral break and low polarization upper limits.

Abstract

We present the discovery of X-ray polarization from the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary and Z-source, GX~340$+$0, using an Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation in March 2024. Along with the IXPE observation, we conducted an extensive X-ray and radio monitoring campaign to ascertain the source properties during and around the IXPE observation. The source was within the horizontal branch throughout the multiwavelength campaign. We measured a significant X-ray polarization in 2--8 keV with polarization degree (PD) = $4.02 \pm 0.35$% and polarization angle (PA) = $37.6 \pm 2.5^\circ$. The energy-dependent polarization indicates that in the 2-2.5 keV energy range, the PA is much lower, $\sim9\pm8^\circ$, while other energy bands are consistent with the PA found over 2.5--8 keV. The simultaneous AstroSat-IXPE spectro-polarimetric observations provide some evidence for independent polarization from various spectral components, hinting at a disparity in the PA from the accretion disk and the Comptonized emission, while suggesting an unpolarized emission from the blackbody component. Radio observations in the 0.7--9 GHz frequency range reveal a non-detection of radio emission in 0.7-1.5 GHz and a significant detection in 5.5--9 GHz, suggesting the presence of a spectral break in 1.5-5.5 GHz. Using ATCA observation we place upper limits on the radio polarization at $<$6% on the linear polarization and $<$4% on the circular polarization at 3$\sigma$ level. We discuss the origin of the X-ray polarization and its implications on the geometry of the spectral components.