The change of GRB polarization angles in the magnetic-dominated jet model

Abstract

The polarimetric measurement on the prompt phase of GRB 100826A shows that the polarization angle changes ~90° between two adjacent time intervals. We will show that this phenomenon can be naturally interpreted in the framework of the magnetic-dominated jet (MDJτ αr1/3, until reaching a saturated value τsat. Electrons move in the globally ordered magnetic field advected by the jet from the central engine and produce synchrotron photons. The polarized synchrotron photons travel alone the jet direction and then collide with the cold electrons at the front of the jet. After the Compton scattering process, these photons escape from the jet and are detected by the observer locating slightly off-axis. If photons are emitted before the bulk Lorentz factor saturates, the change of polarization angle is a natural result of the acceleration of the outflow.