Single dish polarization calibration

Abstract

Using the formalism of Hamaker, Bregman & Sault (1996), I derive a method for the polarisation calibration of observations made with a single radio telescope. This method is particularly appropriate for observations of pulsars, where the sign and magnitude of the circular polarisation are useful for understanding the emission processes at work. I apply the method to observations of PSR J1359-6038 made using the multibeam receiver on the Parkes radio telescope. © Astronomical Society of Australia 2002.