A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Constraints on magnetic field and particle content in blazar jets through optical circular polarization




AuthorsLiodakis Yannis, Blinov Dmitry, Potter Stephen B, Rieger Frank M

PublisherOxford University Press

Publication year2022

JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters

Journal name in sourceMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters

Volume509

Issue1

First page L21

Last pageL25

eISSN1745-3925

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slab118

Web address https://doi.org/10.1093/mnrasl/slab118

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/174851070


Abstract

Polarization offers a unique view in the physical processes of astrophysical jets. We report on optical circular polarization (CP) observations of two famous blazars, namely 3C 279 and PKS 1510−089, at high linearly polarized states. This is the first time PKS 1510−089 is observed in optical CP. While only upper limits can be extracted from our observing campaign, the non-detection of optical CP allows us to provide meaningful constraints on their magnetic field strength and jet composition. We find that high-energy emission models requiring high magnetic field strength and a low positron fraction can be excluded.


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