IXPE, the first observatory dedicated to imaging x-ray polarimetry, was launched on Dec 9, 2021 and is operating successfully. A partnership between NASA and the Italian Space Agencey (ASI) IXPE features three x-ray telescopes each comprised of a mirror module assembly with a polarization sensitive detector at its focus. An extending boom was deployed on orbit to provide the necessary 4 m focal length. A three-axis-stabilized spacecraft provides power, attitude determination and control, and commanding. After one year of observation IXPE has measured statistically significant polarization from almost all the classes of celestial sources that emit X-rays. In the following we describe the IXPE mission, reporting on its performance after 1.5 year of operations. We show the main astrophysical results which are outstanding for a SMEX mission.
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), launched 2021 December 9, will enable meaningful x-ray polarimetry of several types of astronomical sources. Aiming to improve the polarimetric sensitivity of Gas Pixel Detectors, track-reconstruction algorithms based upon machine learning have been proposed in the literature. In particular, a neural-network approach recently developed at Stanford University seems very promising. Here, we describe results obtained using this neural-network approach to analyze IXPE ground calibration data; we then compare those results with results obtained using the current moments-based analysis approach.
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