Structure in the Rotation Measure Sky

Details Structure in the Rotation Measure Sky Structure in the Rotation Measure Sky

2010-10-26

arxiv.org/abs/1010.5299v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Galaxy Astrophysics

13 pages, 14 figures. Figures 1-4 and 9-10 available as separate files. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Scientific paper

An analysis of structure in rotation measure (RM) across the sky based on the RM catalog of Taylor et al. (2009) is presented. Several resolved RM structures are identified with structure in the local ISM, including radio loops I, II, and III, the Gum nebula, and the Orion-Eridanus super bubble. Structure functions (SFs) of RM are presented for selected areas, and maps of SF amplitude and slope across the sky are compared with H-alpha intensity and diffuse polarized intensity. RM variance on an angular scale of 1 degree is correlated with length of the line of sight through the Galaxy, with a contribution from local structures. The slope of the SFs is less concentrated to the Galactic plane and less correlated with length of the line of sight through the Galaxy, suggesting a more local origin for RM structure on angular scales ~ 10 degrees. The RM variance is a factor ~2 higher towards the SGP than towards the NGP, reflecting a more wide-spread asymmetry between the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres. Depolarization of diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission at latitudes < 30 degrees can be explained largely by Faraday dispersion related to small-scale variance in RM, but the errors allow a significant contribution from differential Faraday rotation along the line of sight.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Structure in the Rotation Measure Sky 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 Structure in the Rotation Measure Sky, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Structure in the Rotation Measure Sky will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-159036