Probing the Circular Polarization of Relativistic Jets on VLBI Scales
arXiv:astro-ph/0211183 · doi:10.1023/B:ASTR.0000004991.81026.2f
Abstract
High resolution studies of circular polarization allow us see where it arises in a jet, study its local fractional level and spectrum, and compare these results to local measures of linear polarization and Faraday rotation. Here we not only review past results from Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) circular polarization studies, but we also present preliminary new results on two quasars. In the core of PKS 0607-157, we find strong circular polarization at 8 GHz and much weaker levels at 15 GHz. Combined with the linear polarization data, we favor a simple model where the circular is produced by Faraday conversion driven by a small amount of Faraday rotation. In the core of 3C345, we find strong circular polarization at 15 GHz in a component with distinct linear polarization. This core component is optically thick at 8 GHz, where we detect no circular polarization. With opposite trends in frequency for PKS 0607-157 and 3C345, it seems clear that local conditions in a jet can have a strong effect on circular polarization and need to be taken into account when studying inhomogeneous objects with multi-frequency observations.
To appear in the proceedings of "Circular Polarization of Relativistic Jet Sources", eds R. P. Fender and J.-P. Macquart, in Astrophysics and Space Science. 11 pgs, 2 figs
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Cited by in corpus (5)
- MOJAVE: Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA Experiments - II. First-Epoch 15 GHz Circular Polarization Results
- Full Polarization Spectra of 3C 279
- High Resolution Radio Astronomy Using Very Long Baseline Interferometry
- Simultaneous VLBA polarimetric observations of the v=1,2 J=1-0 and v=1, J=2-1 SiO maser emission toward VY CMa II: component-level polarization analysis
- CHANG-ES XI: Circular Polarization in the Cores of Nearby Galaxies