Circular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles |
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| Authors: | J L Han R N Manchester R X Xu & G J Qiao |
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| Institution: | Beijing Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100012, China,;Australia Telescope National Facility, CSIRO, PO Box 76, Epping, NSW 2121, Australia,;Department of Geophysics, Peking University (PKU), Beijing 100871, China,;CCAT (World Laboratory), PO Box 8730, Beijing 100080, China,;Beijing Astrophysical Center, CAS-PKU, Beijing 100871, China |
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| Abstract: | We present a systematic study of the circular polarization in pulsar integrated profiles, based on published polarization data. For core components, we find no significant correlation between the sense change of circular polarization and the sense of linear position-angle variation. Circular polarization is not restricted to core components and, in some cases, reversals of circular polarization sense are observed across the conal emission. In conal double profiles, the sense of circular polarization is found to be correlated with the sense of position-angle variation. Pulsars with a high degree of linear polarization often have one hand of circular polarization across the whole profile. For most pulsars, the sign of circular polarization is the same at 50-cm and 20-cm wavelengths, and the degree of polarization is similar, albeit with a wide scatter. However, at least two cases of frequency-dependent sign reversals are known. This diverse behaviour may require more than one mechanism to generate circular polarization. |
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| Keywords: | polarization surveys pulsars: general |
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