X-ray Polarimetry of Supernova Remnants

Young supernova remnants such as Tycho, Cas A and SN1006 are relativistic particle accelerators and likely the sources of Galactic cosmic rays. In these sources X-ray synchrotron emitting regions, such as the shock fronts, have been identified and their non-thermal spectrum is expected to be strongly polarized. The NASA/ASI Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), that will be launched in Spring 2021, will be the first mission entirely dedicated to X-ray polarimetry. Its imaging-capable detectors will allow to perform spatially resolved X-ray polarimetry of extended sources such as the supernova remnants. The measurement of polarized X-ray emission would provide unique constraints on the turbulence level of the magnetic field, which plays a crucial role in theories of diffusive shock acceleration with efficient magnetic field amplification in supernova remnants. Here we present simulations of IXPE observation of the Supernova remnants Tycho, Cas A and SN1006, provide estimates on the exposure time needed to recover the expected polarization signal and we show polarization and stokes parameters maps of the sources. Finally we discuss the effect of the instrumental and diffuse background on the observations.