The Challenges of Low-Frequency Radio Polarimetry

Lessons from the Murchison Widefield Array

E. Lenc, C. S. Anderson, N. Barry, Judd Bowman, I. H. Cairns, J. S. Farnes, B. M. Gaensler, G. Heald, M. Johnston-Hollitt, D. L. Kaplan, C. R. Lynch, P. I. McCauley, D. A. Mitchell, J. Morgan, M. F. Morales, Tara Murphy, A. R. Offringa, S. M. Ord, B. Pindor, C. Riseley & 9 others E. M. Sadler, C. Sobey, M. Sokolowski, I. S. Sullivan, S. P. O’Sullivan, X. H. Sun, S. E. Tremblay, C. M. Trott, R. B. Wayth

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We present techniques developed to calibrate and correct Murchison Widefield Array low-frequency (72–300 MHz) radio observations for polarimetry. The extremely wide field-of-view, excellent instantaneous (u, v)-coverage and sensitivity to degree-scale structure that the Murchison Widefield Array provides enable instrumental calibration, removal of instrumental artefacts, and correction for ionospheric Faraday rotation through imaging techniques. With the demonstrated polarimetric capabilities of the Murchison Widefield Array, we discuss future directions for polarimetric science at low frequencies to answer outstanding questions relating to polarised source counts, source depolarisation, pulsar science, low-mass stars, exoplanets, the nature of the interstellar and intergalactic media, and the solar environment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - Sep 11 2017

Fingerprint

polarimetry
radio
low frequencies
intergalactic media
radio observation
extrasolar planets
Faraday effect
field of view
imaging techniques
depolarization
pulsars
ionospherics
artifact
artifacts
calibration
stars
sensitivity
science

Keywords

  • polarization – radio continuum: general – techniques: polarimetric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Cite this

The Challenges of Low-Frequency Radio Polarimetry : Lessons from the Murchison Widefield Array. / Lenc, E.; Anderson, C. S.; Barry, N.; Bowman, Judd; Cairns, I. H.; Farnes, J. S.; Gaensler, B. M.; Heald, G.; Johnston-Hollitt, M.; Kaplan, D. L.; Lynch, C. R.; McCauley, P. I.; Mitchell, D. A.; Morgan, J.; Morales, M. F.; Murphy, Tara; Offringa, A. R.; Ord, S. M.; Pindor, B.; Riseley, C.; Sadler, E. M.; Sobey, C.; Sokolowski, M.; Sullivan, I. S.; O’Sullivan, S. P.; Sun, X. H.; Tremblay, S. E.; Trott, C. M.; Wayth, R. B.

In: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 11.09.2017.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Lenc, E, Anderson, CS, Barry, N, Bowman, J, Cairns, IH, Farnes, JS, Gaensler, BM, Heald, G, Johnston-Hollitt, M, Kaplan, DL, Lynch, CR, McCauley, PI, Mitchell, DA, Morgan, J, Morales, MF, Murphy, T, Offringa, AR, Ord, SM, Pindor, B, Riseley, C, Sadler, EM, Sobey, C, Sokolowski, M, Sullivan, IS, O’Sullivan, SP, Sun, XH, Tremblay, SE, Trott, CM & Wayth, RB 2017, 'The Challenges of Low-Frequency Radio Polarimetry: Lessons from the Murchison Widefield Array', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. https://doi.org/10.1017/pasa.2017.36
Lenc E, Anderson CS, Barry N, Bowman J, Cairns IH, Farnes JS et al. The Challenges of Low-Frequency Radio Polarimetry: Lessons from the Murchison Widefield Array. Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. 2017 Sep 11. https://doi.org/10.1017/pasa.2017.36
Lenc, E. ; Anderson, C. S. ; Barry, N. ; Bowman, Judd ; Cairns, I. H. ; Farnes, J. S. ; Gaensler, B. M. ; Heald, G. ; Johnston-Hollitt, M. ; Kaplan, D. L. ; Lynch, C. R. ; McCauley, P. I. ; Mitchell, D. A. ; Morgan, J. ; Morales, M. F. ; Murphy, Tara ; Offringa, A. R. ; Ord, S. M. ; Pindor, B. ; Riseley, C. ; Sadler, E. M. ; Sobey, C. ; Sokolowski, M. ; Sullivan, I. S. ; O’Sullivan, S. P. ; Sun, X. H. ; Tremblay, S. E. ; Trott, C. M. ; Wayth, R. B. / The Challenges of Low-Frequency Radio Polarimetry : Lessons from the Murchison Widefield Array. In: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia. 2017.
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AU - Lenc, E.

AU - Anderson, C. S.

AU - Barry, N.

AU - Bowman, Judd

AU - Cairns, I. H.

AU - Farnes, J. S.

AU - Gaensler, B. M.

AU - Heald, G.

AU - Johnston-Hollitt, M.

AU - Kaplan, D. L.

AU - Lynch, C. R.

AU - McCauley, P. I.

AU - Mitchell, D. A.

AU - Morgan, J.

AU - Morales, M. F.

AU - Murphy, Tara

AU - Offringa, A. R.

AU - Ord, S. M.

AU - Pindor, B.

AU - Riseley, C.

AU - Sadler, E. M.

AU - Sobey, C.

AU - Sokolowski, M.

AU - Sullivan, I. S.

AU - O’Sullivan, S. P.

AU - Sun, X. H.

AU - Tremblay, S. E.

AU - Trott, C. M.

AU - Wayth, R. B.

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