Radio sources with ultrahigh polarization

Shi, H., Liang, H. ORCID: 0000-0001-9496-406X, Han, J.L. and Hunstead, R.W., 2010. Radio sources with ultrahigh polarization. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 409 (2), pp. 821-838. ISSN 0035-8711

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Abstract

A sample of 129 unresolved radio sources with ultrahigh linear polarization (> 30 per cent) has been selected from the NRAO VLA Sky Survey. Such high average linear polarization is unusual i n extragalactic sources. Higher resolution Australia Telescope Compact Array and Very Large Array observations confirm the high average polarization but find that most of these sources are extended. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectroscopy, where available, shows that the optical counterparts are elliptical galaxies with no detectable emission lines. The optical spectra, radio luminosity, linear size and spectral index of these sources are typical of radio-loud active galactic nuclei. Galaxy counts within a 1 M p c radius of the radio sources show that these highly polarized sources are in environments similar to their low polarization (< 2 per cent) counterparts. Similarly, the line-of-sight environments of the ultrahigh polarization sources are on average indistinguishable from those of the low-polarization sources. We conclude that the extraordinarily high average polarization must be due to intrinsic properties of the sources, such as an extremely ordered source magnetic field, low internal thermal plasma density or a preferential orientation of the source magnetic field perpendicular to the line of sight.

Item Type:	Journal article
Description:	This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version: SHI, H., LIANG, H., HAN, J.L. and HUNSTEAD, R.W., 2010. Radio sources with ultrahigh polarization. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 409 (2), pp. 821-838, is available online at: xxxxxxx [insert URL that the author will receive upon publication here]. "
Publication Title:	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Creators:	Shi, H., Liang, H., Han, J.L. and Hunstead, R.W.
Publisher:	Wiley
Date:	2010
Volume:	409
Number:	2
ISSN:	0035-8711
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17347.x DOI
Rights:	Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 10:47
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:38
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18055

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