X-ray spectra and polarization from magnetar candidates

Magnetars are believed to host the strongest magnetic fields in the present universe (B greater than or similar to 10(14) G) and the study of their persistent emission in the X-ray band offers an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into physical processes in the presence of ultra-strong magnetic fields. Up to now, most of our knowledge about magnetar sources came from spectral analysis, which allowed to test the resonant Compton scattering scenario and to probe the structure of the star magnetosphere. On the other hand, radiation emitted from magnetar surface is expected to he strongly polarized and its observed polarization pattern hears the imprint of both scatterings on to magnetospheric charges and quantum electro-dynamics (QED) effects as it propagates in the magnetized vacuum around the star. X-ray polarimeters scheduled to fly in the next years will finally allow to exploit the wealth of information stored in the polarization observables. Here we revisit the problem of assessing the spectro-polarimetric properties of magnetar persistent emission. At variance with previous investigations, proper account for more physical surface emission models is made by considering either a condensed surface or a magnetized atmosphere. Results are used to simulate polarimetric observations with the forthcoming Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. We find that X-ray polarimetry will allow to detect QED vacuum effects for all the emission models we considered and to discriminate among them.