Very Long Baseline Array observations of the Intraday Variable source J1128+592

TL;DR

This study used VLBA observations to investigate the structure and polarization of the IDV source J1128+592, supporting interstellar scattering as the cause of its rapid variability and revealing core expansion and polarization changes.

Contribution

First VLBA multi-epoch observations of J1128+592 linking its structure and polarization to interstellar scattering effects.

Findings

Core-jet structure aligned with anisotropy angle

Core size increased compared to archival data

Significant polarization and RM variability observed

Abstract

Short time-scale flux density variations of flat spectrum radio sources are often explained by the scattering of radio waves in the turbulent, ionized Interstellar Matter of the Milky Way. One of the most convincing observational arguments in favor of this is the annual modulation of the variability time-scale caused by the Earth orbital motion around the Sun. J1128+592 is an IDV source with a possible annual modulation in its variability time-scale. We observed the source in 6 epochs with the VLBA at 5, 8 and 15 GHz in total intensity and polarization. The VLBA observations revealed an east-west oriented core-jet structure. Its position angle agrees with the angle of anisotropy derived from the annual modulation model. No significant long-term structural changes were observed with VLBI on mas-scales, however, compared to archival data, the VLBI core size is expanded. This expansion offers a possible explanation to the observed decrease of the strength of IDV. VLBI polarimetry revealed significant changes in the electric vector position angle and Rotation Measure of the core and jet. Part of the observed RM variability could be attributed to a scattering screen (37 pc distance), which covers the source (core and jet) and which may be responsible for the IDV. Superposition of polarized sub-components below the angular resolution limit may affect the observed RM as well.