This book serves as both a primer to astronomical polarimetry and an authoritative overview of its application to various types of astronomical objects from AGN, compact stars, binary systems, stars across the HR diagram, transients, the interstellar medium and solar system bodies. It starts with an historical perspective, a discussion of polarimetric theory, instrumentation and techniques in wave bands from the near infrared to gamma rays.

The book presents the state of the art in astronomical polarimetry. It is motivated by the new X-ray polarimeters due to be launched in the next four years and improved optical polarimeters on large telescopes requiring a new analysis of polarimetric theory, methodology and results.This book will be suitable as advanced undergraduate companion text, a primer for graduate students and all researchers with an interest in astronomical polarimetry.

A state-of-the-art review of polarisation principles and astronomical instrumentation Provides detailed background information suitable for graduate students Reviews current and future instrumentation

Autorentext
Roberto Mignani is Staff Astronomer, INAF-IASF, Milan (Italy) and Professor in Astronomy at the University of Zielona Gora (Poland). His research comprises multi-wavelength astrophysics and observations, time-domain astronomy and High-Time Resolution astrophysics, sky surveys, multi-wavelength studies of neutron stars and stellar-mass black holes, stellar evolution, supernova remnants.

Andrew Shearer is Personal Professor at NUI Galway. His research focusses on optical and multiwavelength observations of Pulsars as well as astronomical Instrument development - particularly optical polarimetry.

Silvia Zane is Professor of Astrophysics at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, UK. The main focus of her research is the study of the behaviour of matter and radiation in presence of extreme conditions: strong gravity, strong magnetic fields and strong velocity fields. Most of her research is in the field of compact objects (black holes and neutron stars).

Agnieszka Slowikowska is a researcher at the Centre for Astronomy at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toru (Poland). Her main interests are polarimetric studies of white dwarfs and pulsars, as well as polarimetric techniques and instrument development. She is also interested in exoplanets and debris disks.

Inhalt
When Polarimetry Made History.- Introduction to Polarisation & Polarimetry.- Optical polarimetry: methods, instruments and calibrationtechniques.- X-ray Polarimetry (instrument/techniques/calibration).- Gamma-ray polarimetry.- Polarimetric observations of the Sun.- Spectropolarimetry of stars across the H-R diagram.- Dust polarisation in the Interstellar Medium.- Optical polarimetry of small Solar System bodies: from asteroids to debris disks.- Polarimetry of binary systems: polars, magnetic CVs, XRBs.- Multi-Wavelength Polarimetry of Isolated Pulsars.- Polarimetry of Magnetars and Isolated Neutron Stars.- Magnetic Fields in Gamma-Ray Bursts and their Polarised Emission.- The panchromatic polarisation signatures of Active Galactic Nuclei.