With reference to the XPoSat, consider the following statements:

1. It is India’s first polarimetry mission.

2. It will study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Solution

The Indian Space Research Organisation is collaborating with the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous research institute, to build the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). According to ISRO, “XPoSat will study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.” Hence, statement 2 is correct. It is India’s first, and the world’s second polarimetry mission that is meant to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions. Hence, statement 1 is correct. IXPE carries three state-of-the-art space telescopes. Each of the three identical telescopes hosts one lightweight X-ray mirror and one detector unit. These will help observe polarized X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes. By measuring the polarisation of these X-rays, we can study where the light came from and understand the geometry and inner workings of the light source. According to NASA, X-rays have much higher energy and much shorter wavelengths, between 0.03 and 3 nanometers, so small that some x-rays are no bigger than a single atom of many elements. The physical temperature of an object determines the wavelength of the radiation it emits. The hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of peak emission.