Fitting XMM-Newton Observations of the AXP 1RXS J170849.0-400910 with four magnetar surface emission models, and predictions for X-ray polarization observations with IXPE

Phase-resolved spectral and spectropolarimetric X-ray observations of magnetars present us with the opportunity to test models of the origin of the X-ray emission from these objects, and to constrain the properties of the neutron star surface and atmosphere. We present a new X-ray fitting model for magnetars that accounts for four different emission models including a blackbody emission model, a magnetized atmosphere model, and fixed-ions and free-ions surface emission models. We use the new model for a phase resolved fit of archival XMM-Newton observations of the magnetar 1RXS J170849.0-400910. We find that the fixed-ions condensed surface model gives the best description of the phase-resolved XMM-Newton spectra, followed by the blackbody and free-ions condensed surface models. The magnetized atmosphere model gives a poor description of the data and seems to be largely excluded. We use the new fitting model to evaluate the scientific potential of future spectropolarimetric observations of 1RXS J170849.0-400910 with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) scheduled for launch in December 2021. Our simulations show that the IXPE observations of sources such as 1RXS J170849.0-400910 will allow us to cleanly distinguish between high-polarization (blackbody, magnetized atmosphere) and low-polarization (condensed surface) models. If the higher-polarization blackbody or magnetized atmosphere models apply, IXPE can easily prove QED effects based on a 200 ksec observation as studied here. Longer IXPE observation times will be needed for a clear detection in the case of the lower-polarization condensed surface models.
Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics on November 4, 2021. 15 pages, 9 figures