UPDF AI

X-Ray Polarization and Spectral Variations in an Extreme High-synchrotron-peaked Blazar 1ES 1101–232

Xin-Ke Hu,Jin Zhang,Fei Xie,Xianglei Wang

2025 · DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae2c59
Astrophysical Journal · 1 Citations

Abstract

We present the first X-ray polarimetric observation of the extreme high-synchrotron-peaked blazar 1ES 1101–232, conducted by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). The data analysis incorporates simultaneous and quasi-simultaneous observations from the Swift X-Ray Telescope and NuSTAR. Our results reveal a significant detection of X-ray polarization in the 2–6 keV band at a confidence level (CL) of 6.6σ, with a polarization degree of ΠX = 17.9% ± 2.7% and an electric vector position angle (EVPA) of ψX = 10 .° 0 ± 4 .° 4. An even higher polarization degree of ΠX = 38.9% ± 9.1% with an EVPA of ψX = 13 .° 9 ± 6 .° 7 is observed within a narrower time interval, at a CL of 4.3σ. During the IXPE observational campaign, the X-ray spectrum of 1ES 1101–232 exhibits a clear soft-to-hard spectral evolution in the 0.3–10 keV band, although no significant flux variability is detected. Additionally, a clockwise hysteresis loop is identified in the flux–photon index plane. These findings collectively indicate that the X-ray emission from 1ES 1101–232 originates in a region characterized by a well-ordered magnetic field through synchrotron radiation.