The Relation between Radio Polarization and Gamma-ray Emission in AGN Jets

TL;DR

This study compares radio polarization properties of AGN jets detected and not detected by Fermi LAT, revealing that LAT-detected sources exhibit higher median fractional polarization and are associated with more active jet characteristics.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the polarization differences between gamma-ray detected and non-detected AGN jets, linking polarization to jet activity and gamma-ray emission.

Findings

LAT-detected jets have higher median fractional polarization at 15 GHz.

LAT sources show higher apparent jet speeds and brightness temperatures.

LAT-detected sources are more often in higher activity states.

Abstract

We have compared the parsec-scale jet linear polarization properties of the Fermi LAT-detected and non-detected sources in the complete flux-density-limited (MOJAVE-1) sample of highly beamed AGN. Of the 123 MOJAVE sources, 30 were detected by the LAT during its first three months of operation. We find that during the era since the launch of Fermi, the unresolved core components of the LAT-detected jets have significantly higher median fractional polarization at 15 GHz. This complements our previous findings that these LAT sources have higher apparent jet speeds, brightness temperatures and Doppler factors, and are preferentially found in higher activity states.