Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Dec 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aas...205.7402b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society Meeting 205, #74.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.1470
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Radiative transfer effects through magnetized plasmas plays a central role in the polarimetric properties of many astrophysical sources. Until recently, Faraday rotation and conversion were the primary effects considered. However, in nonuniform environments, geometric phase effects can also occur. We find that it is possible to produce a circular polarization fraction which increases with frequency, until reaching a high frequency cutoff, accompanied by a neglible linear polarization. This mechanism requires only a net magnetic helicity (though not a net field), and hence may be associated with disk angular momentum in accreting environments. We apply this mechanism to radio observations of circular polarisation in AGN, and in particular the Galactic center, finding that it is capable of explaining their observed polarimetric properties. In addition, we consider an application to high mass X-ray binaries and predict the possibility of significant degrees of circular polarization in these systems in the infrared.
Blandford Roger. D.
Broderick Avery E.
No associations
LandOfFree
Circular Polarization From Tangled Magnetic Field 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 Circular Polarization From Tangled Magnetic Field, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Circular Polarization From Tangled Magnetic Field will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1641332