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Paper: |
Detection of Parsec-Scale Circular Polarization with the VLBA |
Volume: |
144, Radio Emission from Galactic and Extragalactic Compact Sources, IAU Colloquium 164 |
Page: |
123 |
Authors: |
Homan, D. C.; Wardle, J. F. C.; Ojha, R.; Roberts, D. H. |
Abstract: |
Circular polarization has been detected in 3C 279 and 3C 84 at multiple epochs, using the VLBA at 15~GHz. This is the first detection of circular polarization in a compact radio source at VLBI resolution. In the case of 3C 279 the polarization is most likely produced by the conversion of linear to circular polarization by low energy relativistic electrons in the emitting region. If this is so, the absence of Faraday rotation by the same electrons suggests that the jet consists of an electron-positron plasma. |
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