view Abstract Citations (203) References (28) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Transfer of polarized radiation in self-absorbed synchrotron sources. I. Results for a homogeneous source. Jones, T. W. ; O'Dell, S. L. Abstract The solution to the equation of transfer of polarized radiation in a steady-state homogeneous rarefied medium is applied to self-absorbed synchrotron sources. Relativistic electrons (independent of the presence of any cold plasma) can quite easily produce in such sources significant Faraday rotation and/or conversion of linear to circular polarization. Structural inhomogeneities do not obviate the importance of these phenomena in compact nonthermal sources. Contrary to the calculation of Pacholczyk and Swihart (1975), the circular polarization for a homogeneous source changes sign just below the self-absorption turnover as the source becomes opaque, even when polarization conversion dominates; however, for a physically realistic source, structural inhomogeneity may alter this behavior. The observational evidence bearing upon these effects is reviewed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: June 1977 DOI: 10.1086/155278 Bibcode: 1977ApJ...214..522J Keywords: Extraterrestrial Radiation; Polarization Characteristics; Radiative Heat Transfer; Radio Sources (Astronomy); Self Absorption; Synchrotron Radiation; Circular Polarization; Heat Transfer Coefficients; Nonthermal Radiation; Relativistic Particles; Standard Deviation; Transport Theory; Astrophysics full text sources ADS |