Polarization in Low Frequency Radio Astronomy
Abstract
This chapter introduces the concepts of polarimetry in the case of low frequency radio astronomy. In this regime radio waves are usually not the signature of atomic or molecular transitions lines, but rather that of unstable particle distribution functions releasing their free energy through electromagnetic radiation. As the radio source region is usually magnetized, the propagation medium (at least close to the source) is anisotropic, and the polarization depends on the local magnetic field direction, the propagation mode and the direction of propagation.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1901.03599,
title = {Polarization in Low Frequency Radio Astronomy},
author = {Baptiste Cecconi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1901.03599},
year = {2019}
}
Comments
This content of this document has been initially written in 2016 as a chapter of a book entitled "The Universe in polarised light", after the "Ecole Internationale de Polarim\'etrie en Astrophysique" (International School on Polarimetry for Astrophysics) organized in June 2013, in Aussois, France