Linear polarization Sensitive VLBI

Linear polarization and composition of VLBI jets

It is shown that linear polarization data can be used to constrain the composition (normal or pair plasma) of pc-scale extragalactic jets. A simple criterion, based on synchrotron and Faraday depolarization properties, is established. It does not depend on the particle density and the length of the emitting region along the line of sight, thus eliminating two physical unknowns.

VLBI Polarization Observations of Intraday Variability

Global 6 cm VLBI polarization observations of the intraday variable sources 0716+714, 0917+624, and 0954+658 are analyzed. Integrated VLA measurements during the VLBI observations suggest that although there were no substantial total intensity variations, the polarization for all three sources varied signiicantly during the 24-hour VLBI experiment. The VLBI data were divided into 2{3 hour segme...

A VLBI polarization study of SiO masers towards VY CMa

Maser emission from the SiO molecule has been widely observed in the nearcircumstellar envelopes of late-type, evolved stars. VLBI images can resolve individual SiO maser spots, providing information about the kinematics and magnetic field in the extended atmospheres of these stars. This poster presents full polarization images of several SiO maser lines towards the supergiant star VY CMa. VY C...

Probing the Circular Polarization of Relativistic Jets on VLBI Scales

High resolution studies of circular polarization allow us see where it arises in a jet, study its local fractional level and spectrum, and compare these results to local measures of linear polarization and Faraday rotation. Here we not only review past results from Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) circular polarization studies, but we also present preliminary new results on two quasars. In the c...

Polarization-sensitive photophoresis