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Magnetic angle for gamma rays

Aug 1, 2003

In December 2002 astronomers at the University of California in Berkeley got a lucky break. A bright gamma-ray burst appeared in the sky within 18 degrees of the Sun, which was close enough to be picked up by the RHESSI solar satellite. Analysing data from the satellite, Wayne Coburn and Steven Boggs made the stunning discovery that the gamma rays from the burst - named GRB021206 - were linearly polarized. And not just by any amount, but by 80% - the maximum polarization theoretically possible. The discovery represents a major breakthrough in gamma-ray astronomy (Nature 423 415).

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