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Neutron star's X-rays reveal 'photon metamorphosis'

Date: May 4, 2023

Source: Cornell University

Summary: A 'beautiful effect' predicted by quantum electrodynamics (QED) can explain the puzzling first
observations of polarized X-rays emitted by a magnetar -- a neutron star featuring a powerful
magnetic field, according to an astrophysicist.

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A "beautiful effect" predicted by quantum electrodynamics (QED) can explain the puz-
zling first observations of polarized X-rays emitted by a magnetar -- a neutron star fea-
turing a powerful magnetic field, according to a Cornell astrophysicist.

The extremely dense and hot remnant of a massive star, boasting a magnetic field 100 trillion times stronger
than Earth's, was expected to generate highly polarized X-rays, meaning that the radiation's electromagnetic
field did not vibrate randomly but had a preferred direction.

But scientists were surprised when NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) satellite last year de-
tected that lower- and higher-energy X-rays were polarized differently, with electromagnetic fields oriented at
right angles to each other.

The phenomenon can be naturally explained as a result of "photon metamorphosis" -- a transformation of X-ray
photons that has been theorized but never directly observed, said Dong Lai, Ph.D. '94, the Benson Jay Simon
'59, MBA '62, and Mary Ellen Simon, M.A. '63, Professor of Astrophysics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

"In this observation of radiation from a faraway celestial object, we see a beautiful effect that is a manifestation
of intricate, fundamental physics," Lai said. "QED is one of the most successful physics theories, but it had not
been tested in such strong magnetic field conditions."

Lai is the author of "IXPE Detection of Polarized X-rays from Magnetars and Photon Mode Conversion at QED
Vacuum Resonance," published April 18 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The research builds on calculations Lai and Wynn Ho, Ph.D. '03, published 20 years ago, incorporating obser-
vations NASA reported last November of the magnetar 4U 0142+61, located 13,000 light-years away in the
Cassiopeia constellation.

Quantum electrodynamics, which describes microscopic interactions between electrons and photons, predicts
that as X-ray photons exit the neutron star's thin atmosphere of hot, magnetized gas, or plasma, they pass
through a phase called vacuum resonance.

There, Lai said, photons, which have no charge, can temporarily convert into pairs of "virtual" electrons and
positrons that are influenced by the magnetar's super-strong magnetic field even in vacuum, a process called
"vacuum birefringence." Combined with a related process, plasma birefringence, conditions are created for the
polarity of high-energy X-rays to swing 90 degrees relative to low-energy X-rays, according to Lai's analysis.

"You can think about the polarization as two flavors of photons," he said. "A photon suddenly converting from
one flavor to another -- you don't usually see this kind of thing. But it's a natural consequence of the physics if
you apply the theory under these extreme conditions."

The IXPE mission did not see the polarization swing in observations of another magnetar, called 1RXS
J170849.0-400910, with an even stronger magnetic field. Lai said that's consistent with his calculations, which
suggest vacuum resonance and photon metamorphosis would occur very deep inside such a neutron star.

Lai said his interpretation of IXPE's observations of the magnetar 4U 0142+61 helped constrain its magnetic
field and rotation, and suggested that its atmosphere was likely composed of partially ionized heavy elements.

Ongoing study of X-rays from some of the universe's most extreme objects, including neutron stars and black
holes, he said, enables scientists to probe the behavior of matter in conditions that can't be replicated in labs,
and adds to understanding of the universe's beauty and diversity.

"The observations by IXPE have opened a new window for studying the surface environment of neutron stars,"
Lai said. "This will lead to new insights into these enigmatic objects."

Story Source:

Materials provided by Cornell University. Original written by James Dean. Note: Content may be edited for
style and length.

Related Multimedia:

• Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A

Journal Reference:

1. Dong Lai. IXPE detection of polarized X-rays from magnetars and photon mode conversion at QED
vacuum resonance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023; 120 (17) DOI:
10.1073/pnas.2216534120

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Cornell University. "Neutron star's X-rays reveal 'photon metamorphosis'." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 May
2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230504111849.htm>.
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