Open AccessCircular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles
Author(s) -
Han J. L.,
Manchester R. N.,
Xu R. X.,
Qiao G. J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.1998.01869.x
Subject(s) - circular polarization , physics , polarization (electrochemistry) , polarization in astronomy , pulsar , degree of polarization , linear polarization , astrophysics , position angle , wavelength , optics , scattering , laser , galaxy , chemistry , microstrip
We present a systematic study of the circular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles, based on published polarization data. For core components, we find no significant correlation between the sense change of circular polarization and the sense of linear position‐angle variation. Circular polarization is not restricted to core components and, in some cases, reversals of circular polarization sense are observed across the conal emission. In conal double profiles, the sense of circular polarization is found to be correlated with the sense of position‐angle variation. Pulsars with a high degree of linear polarization often have one hand of circular polarization across the whole profile. For most pulsars, the sign of circular polarization is the same at 50‐cm and 20‐cm wavelengths, and the degree of polarization is similar, albeit with a wide scatter. However, at least two cases of frequency‐dependent sign reversals are known. This diverse behaviour may require more than one mechanism to generate circular polarization.