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arXiv · 2606.22667

Polarization Angle Geodesics in PSRs B1133+16 and B2016+28

M. M. McKinnon
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Abstract

Recent models of pulsar polarization predict that the position and ellipticity angles of the polarization vector can trace portions of a small or great circle on the Poincare sphere. A great circle can arise from a transition in dominance of orthogonal polarization modes, where the relative intensity of the modes changes with pulse longitude. A small circle may be caused by a rotation of the vector, where the phase difference between the modes changes with pulse longitude or wavelength. Observations of PSRs B1133+16 and B2016+28 are reanalyzed to search for these polarization features within their pulse profiles. The polarization angles observed in part of PSR B1133+16 are shown to follow a great circle on the Poincare sphere. The angles observed across the pulse of PSR B2016+28 follow an arc that resembles a portion of a great circle that has been altered by the pulsar's rotation. The observations are interpreted within the context of three different polarization models. All three models produce similar results for both pulsars and indicate that the observed geodesics are caused by mode transitions. The arc observed in PSR B2016+28 can also be interpreted as a vector rotation, provided the modes are elliptically polarized. The observations and accompanying analysis show that mode transitions are not restricted to the equatorial plane of the Poincare sphere and that arcs and partial circles may be more common than previously recognized.

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M. M. McKinnon. 2026-06-21. Polarization Angle Geodesics in PSRs B1133+16 and B2016+28. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.22667

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