Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

X-ray polarimetry : historical remarks and other considerations / M.C. Weisskopf -- Scattering polarimetry in high energy astronomy / M.L. McConnell -- Photoelectric polarimeters / R. Bellazzini, G. Spandre -- Bragg crystal polarimeters / E. Silver, H. Schnopper -- X-ray polarimetry with the photon-counting pixel detector Timepix / T. Michel et al. -- High-energy polarized photon interactions with matter : simulations with Geant4 / F. Longo et al. -- The GPD as a polarimeter : theory and facts / P. Soffitta et al. -- Ideal gas electron multipliers (GEMs) for X-ray polarimeters / T. Tomagawa et al. -- Broad-band soft X-ray polarimetry / H.L. Marshall et al. -- Feasibility of X-ray photoelectric polarimeters with large field of view / F. Muleri et al. -- Angular resolution of a photoelectric polarimeter / F. Lazzarotto et al. -- Development of a Thomson X-ray polarimeter / P.V. Rishin et al. -- Hard X-ray/soft gamma ray polarimetry using a Laue lens / N. Barrière et al. -- Probing strong gravity effects with X-ray polarimetry / M. Dovčiak -- X-ray polarization from black holes in the thermal state / J.D. Schnittman, J.H. Krolik -- Strong-gravity effects acting on polarization from orbiting spots / V. Karas -- Polarization of thermal emission from accreting black holes / M. Dovčiak et al. -- X-ray polarimetry and radio-quiet AGN / G. Matt -- The soft X-ray polarization in obscured AGN / S. Bianchi et al. -- The polarization of complex X-ray sources / R.W. Goosmann -- Polarization of Compton X-rays from jets in AGN / A. McNamara et al. -- Polarization of X-ray lines from galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies / I.V. Zhuravleva et al. -- Polarization characteristics of rotation-powered pulsars / A.K. Harding -- Polarized X-rays from magnetized neutron stars / D. Lai et al. -- Polarization properties of X-ray millisecond pulsars / J. Poutanen -- X-ray polarization signatures of neutron stars / P. Ghosh -- Polarization from the oscillating magnetized accretion torus / J. Horák, M. Bursa -- X-ray polarization from accreting white dwarfs and associated systems / K. Wu et al. -- Polarization of pulsar wind nebulae / N. Bucciantini -- X-ray polarization of gamma-ray bursts / D. Lazzati -- Central engine afterglow from GRBs and the polarization signature / Y.Z. Fan -- GRB afterglow polarimetry past, preset and future / S. Covino -- Gamma-ray polarimetry with SPI / A.J. Dean -- INTEGRAL/IBIS observations of the Crab nebula and GRB 041219A polarization / P. Laurent et al. -- Fermi results on the origin of high-energy emission in pulsars / S. McGlynn et al. -- Diagnostics of the evolution of spiral galaxies in a cluster environment / M. Weżgowiec et al. -- Gravity and extreme magnetism SMEX (GEMS) / J. Swank et al. -- Programs of X-ray polarimetry in Italy / E. Costa et al. -- A polarimeter for IXO / R. Bellazzini et al. -- Polarimetry with ASTRO-H soft gamma-ray detector / H. Tajima et al. -- The Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope and its polarization sensitivity / A.B. Garson et al. -- PoGOLite : a balloon-borne soft gamma-ray polarimeter / M. Pearce -- Studies of neutron background rejection in the PoGOLite polarimeter / M. Kiss -- Observing polarized X-rays with PoGOLite / M. Axelsson -- Pre-flight qualification tests of the PoGOLite detector system / M.S. jackson et al. -- The gamma-ray polarimeter experiment (GRAPE) balloon payload / P.F. Bloser et al. -- POLAR : an instrument dedicated to GRB polarization measurement / N. Produit -- Polarization detection capability of GRIPS / J. Greiner et al. -- X-ray and [gamma]-ray polarimetry small satellite mission PolariS / K. Hayashida -- GAP aboard the solar-powered sail mission / D. Yonetoku et al. -- Hard X-ray polarimeter for small-satellite missions / R. Cowsik et al. -- Performance of hard X-ray polarimeter : PHENEX / S. Gunji et al. -- GRB polarimetry with POET / M.L. McConnell.

Due to the advent of a new generation of detectors, X-ray polarimetry promises to join X-ray imaging, spectroscopy and timing as one of the main observational techniques in high energy astrophysics. This has renewed interest in the field, and indeed several polarimetric missions have recently been proposed. This volume provides a complete and up-to-date view of the subject for researchers in astrophysics. The contributors discuss the present status and perspectives of instruments, review current theoretical models, and examine future missions. As well as detailed papers, the book contains broad reviews that can be easily understood by astrophysicists new to the field.