Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer
Mapping the circumnuclear regions of the Circinus galaxy with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer
We report on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) observation of the closest and X-ray brightest Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN), the Circinus galaxy. We find the source to be significantly polarized in the 2--6 keV band. From previous studies, the X-ray spectrum is known to be dominated by reflection …