IXPE: Our First Look Around the X-ray Polarized Sky

Explore the groundbreaking advancements in X-ray polarization astronomy with this Stanford Physics colloquium talk. Delve into the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission, which has revolutionized our understanding of neutron stars and black holes. Learn about the 50-year journey from the initial detection of X-ray polarization in the Crab nebula to the current IXPE mission, offering 100 times greater sensitivity. Discover the motivations behind polarization studies, the technological breakthroughs enabling IXPE, and exciting findings from its first year of operation. Gain insights into the complex X-ray polarization signals detected from dozens of astronomical sources and anticipate future novel probes of high-energy astrophysical phenomena as the wider scientific community engages with this cutting-edge research.