Abstract
In many blazars a very peculiar phenomenon has been observed: rapid rotation in the angle of polarization. Such rotations can be explained by a two-component model within the framework of relativistic jets. One component is the constant background radiation of the jet itself, the other component is a relativistic shock propagating along the jet and providing the variable flux and polarization. This two-component model gives a good fit to the variations in the angle and degree of polarization and in the flux of three blazars, BL Lac, AO 0235 + 164 and AO 0727–115. This suggests that the observed variations could be due to variations in the orientation and intensity of the magnetic field and in the density of electrons in the shock radiating region.
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