Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jul 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993a%26a...274..968n&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 274, p. 968 (1993)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
34
Polarization, Methods: Analytical, Methods: Data Analysis, Methods: Numerical, Methods: Statistical
Scientific paper
When dealing with measurements of the position angle, θ, of linear polarization, p, it is common practice to use one of the alternative error formulae of Serkowski for expressing the one sigma value, σθ, according to whether the signal-to-noise ratio of the polarization measure, p/σ, is zero or ≫ zero. In this paper, the applicability of these formulae has been considered by exploring the statistical behaviour of θ using both numerical integrations and data simulations.
For p/σ > 6, it is shown that the distribution of θ is essentially Gaussian and that standard formulae can be applied. Below this critical value, the non-normality of the statistics provides a situation for which error estimation is complex and can't be considered in terms of the simple Serkowski formulae.
In order to make assessment of whether two measured values of θ are different, data simulation has been applied to determine the distribution of difference in two values of position angle measured with low signal-to-noise ratios.
Clarke David
Naghizadeh-Khouei J.
No associations
LandOfFree
On the statistical behaviour of the position angle of linear polarization 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 On the statistical behaviour of the position angle of linear polarization, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the statistical behaviour of the position angle of linear polarization will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1066678