- Q: Where can I get help if I have questions about IXPE
data, software, archive, or other mission-related issues which are not
addressed here?
A: Such questions can be submitted to the IXPE help desk
by using HEASARC's Feedback Form.
Please be sure to select "IXPE" as the mailing list so that
your question can be routed to the correct help desk promptly.
- Q: How can I find out which targets either have already been observed by IXPE?
A: The list of all observed targets can be found the HEASARC's IXMASTER table. The IXMASTER table is regularly updated as the observations of targets are completed and as previously unanticipated ToOs are performed.
- Q: How can I find out which targets IXPE is about to observe?
A: The current long term plan for IXPE can be accessed here on the IXPE project website at MSFC. Please note that the long term plan may be adjusted to accomodate observations of transient tragets.
- Q: I am at a U.S. institution and planning to be the PI of an IXPE proposal. Can I request funding for Co-I's at U.S institutions as well?
A: Yes, a PI from a U.S. institution may include funding for Co-I's at U.S. institutions in the budget request.
- Q: Is there a limit on the level of funding that can be requested for a co-I on an IXPE proposal?
A: We do not anticipate imposing a cap on the level of GO funding that can be requested for co-Is on IXPE proposals, including those led by non-US PIs. More detailed budget direction will be provided along with the invitation to submit Phase-2 cost proposals for those proposals that are successful in Phase-1.
- Q: Can the funding request for an IXPE proposal also include costs related to acquisition of multi-wavelength correlative data?
A: Funding requests to cover costs related to acquisition of multi-wavelength correlative data will be considered on a case-by-case basis provided that the correlative data are required for the interpretation of IXPE data and the request is strongly justified.
- What is the eligibility of individuals affiliated with research institutions in China to apply for proposals as part of the IXPE General Observer Program?
A: As mentioned in Section III (c) of the ROSES-2023 Summary of Solicitation: Proposals directly from PRC organizations and/or with a PI affiliated with a PRC organization, are not eligible and will be declined without review and proposals involving bilateral participation, collaboration, or coordination in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company, whether funded or performed under a no- exchange-of-funds basis, shall be ineligible for award.
Researchers affiliated with Chinese institutions can be part of larger (i.e multi-lateral) proposals.
- Q: How do I reference unpublished work? How do I reference proprietary results?
A: References to published work are encouraged, including work citable by a Digital Object Identifier (DOI).
Unpublished work that is based on public data sets or public software can be referenced as work "by the proposal team", without identifying the PI or CoIs by name.
It may be occasionally important to cite exclusive access datasets or non-public software that may reveal (or strongly imply) the investigators on the proposal. It is suggested proposers use language like "obtained in private communication" or "from private consultation" when referring to such potentially revealing work, again without identifying anyone by name.
- Does the Expertise and Resources (non anonymized) document for IXPE proposals need to contain all items #1-8 as listed on the page on dual anonymous guidelines here?
A: In table D.17-2 of the IXPE call for proposals, it is summarized about the Expertise & Resources document:
"This document provides a list of all team members, their institutional affiliations, roles, expertise, and contributions to the work. The document should also discuss any specific resources that are key to completing the proposed work."
Thus items #1-3 should be included in the E&R document and #4 may be included if the team has access to resources (e.g multi-wavelength data relevant for interpretation, access to high performance computing centers etc.) that are relevant to the proposal and omitted if not. #5-8 are not required by IXPE.
- Q: When does an individual observation without an exclusive use period become available?
A: Each observation without exclusive use period becomes available immediately after processing and delivery to the HEASARC. This is typically within 1-2 weeks of the target being observed.
- Q: For segmented observations, when is the data from each segment released? Will the PI be able to look at each segment before they are made available to the public?
A: For segmented observations, the data will be released when all segments are complete. However, if all the segments of an observation cannot be completed in the same 6 month observing window, then the data will be released when the observing window closes. The data from the remaining segments will be released in the following window when the observation is complete. PIs will be able to access the data upon release.
- Q: My observation has been granted an exclusive use period. How will I receive my data?
A: Once the data are processed and delivered to the HEASARC, the PI will receive an email with the download link and instructions to decrypt the data.
- Q: If an exclusive use period has been granted for multiple observations, does the period start from when the first observation is released? Or does the period apply separately to each observation?
A: IXPE policy is for the granted exclusive use period to apply to each observation.
- Q: If my publication includes IXPE data, what acknowledgement should be included?
A: It is strongly recommended that publications using IXPE data include the following acknowledgement:
"This work reports observations obtained with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), a joint US (NASA) and Italian (ASI) mission, led by Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The research uses data products provided by the IXPE Science Operations Center (MSFC), using algorithms developed by the IXPE Collaboration, and distributed by the High-Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC)."
