Issue |
Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser.
Volume 138, Number 1, July 1999
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 31 - 45 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/aas:1999494 | |
Published online | 15 July 1999 |
A 1.4 GHz radio continuum and polarization survey at medium Galactic latitudes
II. First section
Max–Planck–Institut für Radioastronomie, Postfach 2024, 53010 Bonn, Germany
Send offprint request to: W. Reich
Received:
30
September
1998
Accepted:
8
April
1999
We present the first section of a radio continuum and
polarization survey at medium Galactic latitudes carried out with the
Effelsberg 100-m telescope at 1.4 GHz. Four large fields have been
observed, which all together cover an area of about .
The rms-sensitivity is about 15 mK TB (about 7 mJy/beam
area) in total intensity and is limited by confusion. A sensitivity of
8 mK TB is obtained in linear polarization. The angular
resolution of the observations is 9
l35. The maps in total
intensity and linear polarization have been absolutely calibrated by
low resolution data where ava ilable. Significant linear polarization is
seen in all the maps. In general, the intensity fluctuations measured
in linear polarization are not correlated with total intensity
structures. Areas of high polarization of some degrees extent are
seen, again with no apparent corresponding total intensity feature.
Modulation of polarized background emission by spatially varying
Faraday rotation seems the most likely explanation. Quite unexpected
is the detection of filamentary and ring-like depolarization
structures in the direction of the anticentre region, whose extents are up to
about
.
Key words: surveys / ISM: structure / radio continuum: ISM polarization / ISM: magnetic fields
© European Southern Observatory (ESO), 1999