An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars

In most pulsars, the circularly polarized component, Stokes $V$, is weak in the average pulse profiles. By forming the average profile of $|V|$ from single pulses we can distinguish between pulsars where $V$ is weak in the individual pulses and those where large $V$ of variable handedness is observe...

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Main Authors: Karastergiou, A, Johnston, S
Format: Journal article
Published: 2004
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author Karastergiou, A
Johnston, S
author_facet Karastergiou, A
Johnston, S
author_sort Karastergiou, A
collection OXFORD
description In most pulsars, the circularly polarized component, Stokes $V$, is weak in the average pulse profiles. By forming the average profile of $|V|$ from single pulses we can distinguish between pulsars where $V$ is weak in the individual pulses and those where large $V$ of variable handedness is observed from one pulse to the other. We show how $|V|$ profiles depend on the signal-to-noise ratio of $V$ in the single pulses and demonstrate that it is possible to simulate the observed, broad distributions of $V$ by assuming a model where $|V|$ is distributed around a mean value and the handedness of $V$ is permitted to change randomly. The $|V|$ enhanced profiles of 13 pulsars are shown, 5 observed at 1.41 GHz and 8 observed at 4.85 GHz, to complement the set in Karastergiou et al. (2003b). It is argued that the degree of circular polarization in the single pulses is related to the orthogonal polarization mode phenomenon and not to the classification of the pulse components as cone or core.
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spelling oxford-uuid:bb076bb9-c87d-400f-998c-6eb284335b7d2022-03-27T05:14:04ZAn investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsarsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:bb076bb9-c87d-400f-998c-6eb284335b7dSymplectic Elements at Oxford2004Karastergiou, AJohnston, SIn most pulsars, the circularly polarized component, Stokes $V$, is weak in the average pulse profiles. By forming the average profile of $|V|$ from single pulses we can distinguish between pulsars where $V$ is weak in the individual pulses and those where large $V$ of variable handedness is observed from one pulse to the other. We show how $|V|$ profiles depend on the signal-to-noise ratio of $V$ in the single pulses and demonstrate that it is possible to simulate the observed, broad distributions of $V$ by assuming a model where $|V|$ is distributed around a mean value and the handedness of $V$ is permitted to change randomly. The $|V|$ enhanced profiles of 13 pulsars are shown, 5 observed at 1.41 GHz and 8 observed at 4.85 GHz, to complement the set in Karastergiou et al. (2003b). It is argued that the degree of circular polarization in the single pulses is related to the orthogonal polarization mode phenomenon and not to the classification of the pulse components as cone or core.
spellingShingle Karastergiou, A
Johnston, S
An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
title An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
title_full An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
title_fullStr An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
title_full_unstemmed An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
title_short An investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
title_sort investigation of the absolute circular polarization in radio pulsars
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