2013/01/09 by Jeremy D. Schnittman, L. Angelini, Schnittman, Jeremy +57
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1301.1957
openalex publication_date 2013/01/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We present here a summary of the scientific goals behind the Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX (GEMS) X-ray polarimetry mission's black hole (BH) observing program. The primary targets can be divided into two classes: stellar-mass galactic BHs in accreting binaries, and super-massive BHs in the centers of active galactic nuclei (AGN). The stellar-mass BHs can in turn be divided into various X-ray spectral states: thermal-dominant (disk), hard (radio jet), and steep power-law (hot corona). These different spectral states are thought to be generated by different accretion geometries and emission mechanisms. X-ray polarization is an ideal tool for probing the geometry around these BHs and revealing the specific properties of the accreting gas.