Interstellar Scintillation of the Polarized Flux Density in Quasar, PKS 0405-385

Details Interstellar Scintillation of the Polarized Flux Density in Quasar, PKS 0405-385 Interstellar Scintillation of the Polarized Flux Density in Quasar, PKS 0405-385

2002-08-15

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0208307v1

Astrophys.J. 581 (2002) 103-126

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

43 pages 15 figures, accepted for ApJ Dec 2002

Scientific paper

10.1086/344167

The remarkable rapid variations in radio flux density and polarization of the quasar PKS 0405-385 observed in 1996 are subject to a correlation analysis, from which characteristic time scales and amplitudes are derived. The variations are interpreted as interstellar scintillations. The cm wavelength observations are in the weak scintillation regime for which models for the various auto- and cross-correlations of the Stokes parameters are derived and fitted to the observations. These are well modelled by interstellar scintillation (ISS) of a 30 by 22 micro-as source, with about 180 degree rotation of the polarization angle along its long dimension. This success in explaining the remarkable intra-day variations (IDV)in polarization confirms that ISS gives rise to the IDV in this quasar. However, the fit requires the scintillations to be occurring much closer to the Earth than expected according to the standard model for the ionized interstellar medium (IISM). Scattering at distances in the range 3-30 parsec are required to explain the observations. The associated source model has a peak brightness temperature near 2.0 10^{13}K, which is about twenty-five times smaller than previously derived for this source. This reduces the implied Doppler factor in the relativistic jet, presumed responsible to 10-20, high but just compatible with cm wavelength VLBI estimates for the Doppler factors in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Interstellar Scintillation of the Polarized Flux Density in Quasar, PKS 0405-385 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Interstellar Scintillation of the Polarized Flux Density in Quasar, PKS 0405-385, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interstellar Scintillation of the Polarized Flux Density in Quasar, PKS 0405-385 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-189190