Abstract
In this Chapter we discuss the history and the potential scientific impact of X-ray polarimetry for the study of neutron stars. Despite major progress in X-ray imaging, spectroscopy, and timing, there have been only modest attempts at X-ray polarime-try. Indeed, the last such dedicated experiment, conducted by one of us over three decades ago, had such limited observing time and sensitivity that even ̃10%° of polarization would not have been detected from some of the brightest X-ray sources in the sky, and statistically significant X-ray polarization was detected in only one of the brightest celestial X-ray sources, the Crab Nebula. Radio and optical astronomers use polarimetry extensively to probe the radiation physics and the geometry of sources. Sensitive X-ray polarimetry promises to reveal unique and crucial information about physical processes and structure of neutron stars (and indeed all classes of X-ray sources). X-ray polarimetry remains the last undeveloped tool for the X-ray study of astronomical objects and needs to be properly exploited.
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