Abstract
We calculate the scattering of X-rays by interstellar dust for a dust model that reproduces the observed wavelength-dependent extinction and polarization of starlight. On interstellar sight lines that produce appreciable starlight polarization, we predict that the dust-scattered X-ray halo around point sources will have measurable azimuthal asymmetry due to scattering by partially aligned nonspherical grains. We calculate the expected halo asymmetry. X-ray halo asymmetry provides a new test of interstellar dust models.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1318-1330 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 652 |
| Issue number | 2 I |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Keywords
- Dust, extinction
- Scattering
- X-rays: ISM
- X-rays: general