
arXiv: astro-ph/9805002
Different ray paths through a turbulent plasma can produce stochastic Faraday rotation leading to depolarization of any linearly polarized component. Simple theory predicts that the average values of the Stokes parameters decay according to $$, $\propto\exp(-δ_l)$, with $δ_l\proptoλ^4$. It is pointed out that a definitive test for such depolarization is provided by the fact that $$ remains constant while $^2+< U>^2$ decreases $\propto\exp(-2δ_l)$. The averages to which this effect, called polarization covariance, should apply are discussed; it should apply to spatial averages over a polarization map or temporal averages over a data set, but not to beamwidth and bandwidth averages that are intrinsic to the observation process. Observations of depolarization would provide statistical information on fluctuations in the turbulent plasma along the line of sight, specifically, the variance of the rotation measure. Other effects that can also cause depolarization are discussed.
15 pages, Accepted for publication in ApJ
Astrophysics (astro-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics
Astrophysics (astro-ph), FOS: Physical sciences, Astrophysics
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 22 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
