Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique
Here, I overview one of the available techniques for the analysis of broad-band spectropolarimetric data, the Stokes QU-fitting. Since broad-band receivers have been installed at most radio facilities, the collection of radio data, both the total intensity and the linear polarization, is revealing i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Galaxies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/9/3/56 |
| _version_ | 1797519176305213440 |
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| author | Alice Pasetto |
| author_facet | Alice Pasetto |
| author_sort | Alice Pasetto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Here, I overview one of the available techniques for the analysis of broad-band spectropolarimetric data, the Stokes QU-fitting. Since broad-band receivers have been installed at most radio facilities, the collection of radio data, both the total intensity and the linear polarization, is revealing interesting features in their spectra. The polarized light, and therefore its properties, i.e. the fractional polarization <i>p</i> and the polarized angle <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>χ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, are now finally well sampled in wide wavelength ranges. The new complex behaviors revealed by the data can be studied using the Stokes QU-fitting, which consists of modeling the Stokes parameters <i>Q</i> and <i>U</i> using wavelength-dependent analytical models, available in the literature. This technique provides a very good diagnostic of the nature and structure of the magnetized plasma, with the possibility to identify complex structures, internal or external, of the source of study. A summary of the available and most used models describing the polarization behavior, is presented. Moreover, some of the most significant observational works which use this technique are also summarized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-070ebc6f204e4763874df46660b11c42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4434 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:39:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Galaxies |
| spelling | doaj.art-070ebc6f204e4763874df46660b11c422023-11-22T13:10:38ZengMDPI AGGalaxies2075-44342021-08-01935610.3390/galaxies9030056Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting TechniqueAlice Pasetto0Instituto de Radioastronomía y Astrofísica (IRyA-UNAM), 3-72 (Xangari), Morelia 58190, MexicoHere, I overview one of the available techniques for the analysis of broad-band spectropolarimetric data, the Stokes QU-fitting. Since broad-band receivers have been installed at most radio facilities, the collection of radio data, both the total intensity and the linear polarization, is revealing interesting features in their spectra. The polarized light, and therefore its properties, i.e. the fractional polarization <i>p</i> and the polarized angle <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>χ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>, are now finally well sampled in wide wavelength ranges. The new complex behaviors revealed by the data can be studied using the Stokes QU-fitting, which consists of modeling the Stokes parameters <i>Q</i> and <i>U</i> using wavelength-dependent analytical models, available in the literature. This technique provides a very good diagnostic of the nature and structure of the magnetized plasma, with the possibility to identify complex structures, internal or external, of the source of study. A summary of the available and most used models describing the polarization behavior, is presented. Moreover, some of the most significant observational works which use this technique are also summarized.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/9/3/56spectropolarimetrypolarizationmagneto-ionic medium |
| spellingShingle | Alice Pasetto Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique Galaxies spectropolarimetry polarization magneto-ionic medium |
| title | Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique |
| title_full | Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique |
| title_fullStr | Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique |
| title_short | Message in a Bottle: Unveiling the Magneto-Ionic Complexity of AGNs through the Stokes QU-Fitting Technique |
| title_sort | message in a bottle unveiling the magneto ionic complexity of agns through the stokes qu fitting technique |
| topic | spectropolarimetry polarization magneto-ionic medium |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/9/3/56 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alicepasetto messageinabottleunveilingthemagnetoioniccomplexityofagnsthroughthestokesqufittingtechnique |