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Strong, Variable Circular Polarization in PKS 1519–273

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Jean-Pierre MacQuart
Affiliation:
RCfTA, School of Physics, University of Sydney, Australia. E-mail: jpm@physics.usyd.edu.au
Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer
Affiliation:
Australia Telescope National Facility/Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia. E-mail: lkedzior@atnfcsiro.au
David Jauncey
Affiliation:
Australia Telescope National Facility, CSIRO, Australia. E-mail: djauncey@atnf.csiro.au
David Rayner
Affiliation:
Australia Telescope National Facility/University of Tasmania, Australia. E-mail: d_rayner@postoffice.utas.edit.au

Abstract

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We find strong (> 1%) circular polarization in the intraday-variable radio source PKS 1519–273. The source exhibits ~ 12 hourly variability in all four Stokes parameters at 4.8 and 8.6 GHz, and longer timescale variability at 2.5 and 1.4 GHz. The characteristics and frequency dependence of the variability suggest that it is due to interstellar scintillation. VSOP limits on the distance to the scattering screen constrain the brightness temperature to TB > 5 × 1013 K. The fluctuations in total intensity are well-correlated with those in circular polarization, implying that the variable component of the source is −3.8 ±0.4% circularly polarized at 4.8 GHz. The origin of the circular polarization is unclear.

Type
Chapter Three Intra-Day Variability, Gravitational Lensing and Polarization
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 2001

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