University Of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

The global magneto-ionic medium survey: a faraday depth survey of the northern sky covering 1280-1750 mhz

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 11:53 authored by Wolleben, M, Landecker, TL, Douglas, KA, Gray, AD, Ordog, A, John DickeyJohn Dickey, Hill, AS, Carretti, E, Brown, JC, Gaensler, BM, Han, JL, Haverkorn, M, Kothes, R, Leahy, JP, McClure-Griffiths, N, McConnell, D, Reich, W, Taylor, AR, Thomson, AJM, West, JL

The Galactic interstellar medium hosts a significant magnetic field, which can be probed through the synchrotron emission produced from its interaction with relativistic electrons. Linearly polarized synchrotron emission is generated throughout the Galaxy and, at longer wavelengths, modified along nearly every path by Faraday rotation in the intervening magneto-ionic medium. Full characterization of the polarized emission requires wideband observations with many frequency channels. We have surveyed polarized radio emission from the Northern sky over the range 1280-1750 MHz, with channel width 236.8 kHz, using the John A. Galt Telescope (diameter 25.6 m) at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory, as part of the Global Magneto-Ionic Medium Survey. The survey covered 72% of the sky, decl. -30degree to +87degree at all R.A. The intensity scale was absolutely calibrated, based on the flux density and spectral index of Cygnus A. Polarization angle was calibrated using the extended polarized emission of the Fan Region. Data are presented as brightness temperatures with angular resolution 40'. Sensitivity in Stokes Q and U is 45 mK rms in a 1.18 MHz band. We have applied rotation measure synthesis to the data to obtain a Faraday depth cube of resolution 150 rad m-2 and sensitivity 3 mK rms of polarized intensity. Features in Faraday depth up to a width of 110 rad m-2 are represented. The maximum detectable Faraday depth is +-2 x 104 rad m-2. The survey data are available at the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre.

History

Publication title

Astronomical Journal

Volume

162

Article number

35

Number

35

Pagination

1-24

ISSN

0004-6256

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Univ Chicago Press

Place of publication

1427 E 60Th St, Chicago, USA, Il, 60637-2954

Rights statement

© 2021. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences

Usage metrics

    Exports