The IXPE and multifrequency polarimetric view of the extreme blazars 1ES 1101-232 and RGB J0710+591

2025/12/22 by Fabrizio Tavecchio, Tavecchio, Fabrizio, Dawoon E. Kim +106
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Neutrino Physics Research #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2512.19193

Abstract

Multiwavelength polarimetry is a powerful tool to probe magnetic field and flow geometries in the relativistic jets of blazars. In this respect, particularly interesting are the sources whose synchrotron emission covers a broad range of frequencies, from radio to X-rays, such as the BL Lac objects of the HSP type. Previous measurements including radio, optical and X-ray data show a clear trend, with the degree of polarization increasing with frequency. Here we report radio, optical and X-ray observations (Swift, Nustar and IXPE) of 1ES 1101-232 and RGB J0710+591, two blazars belonging to the puzzling subclass of extreme BL Lacs (EHBL). For 1ES 1101-232 we found a strong frequency-dependency of the degree of polarization (with a ratio Π_X/Π_O≃ 5.2). For RGB J0710+591, IXPE derived a 1σ upper limit Π_X<11.6%, comparable with the measured optical degree of polarization (average Π_O∼ 12%). We discuss the results in the framework of current interpretations and, in particular, we report an improved version of the stratified shock model that is able to reproduce the observed data of both sources.

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