Polarization swings from curved trajectories of the emitting regions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a model explaining polarization swings in blazars caused by curved trajectories of emitting regions, enabling estimation of blob positions through polarization measurements.

Contribution

The paper presents a new model linking polarization swings to curved trajectories of blobs in blazars, allowing position estimation from polarization data.

Findings

Model successfully explains polarization swings in blazar 3C 279.

Maximum polarization angle rotation coincides with polarization degree minimum.

Method enables estimation of blob travel distance and position.

Abstract

We present a model of polarization swings in blazars from axially symmetric blobs propagating on curved trajectories. If the minimum inclination of the velocity vector to the line of sight is smaller than Gamma^{-1}, the polarization angle maximum rotation rate is simultaneous with the polarization degree minimum and a spike in the total flux. By measuring the maximum rotation rate and the moment of the polarization maximum, it is possible to estimate the distance covered by the blob and thus its approximate position. We apply this model to the recent polarization event in blazar 3C 279.