A new test for the absorption mechanism of GPS radio sources using polarization properties

Abstract

We consider the use of polarization properties as a means to discriminate between Synchrotron Self-Absorption (SSA) and Free-Free Absorption (FFA) in GHz-Peaked Spectrum (GPS) sources. The polarization position angle (PA) of synchrotron radiation at high frequencies for the optically thin regime is perpendicular to the magnetic field, whereas it is parallel to the magnetic field at low frequencies for the optically thick regime. Therefore, SSA produces a change in PA of 90° across the spectral peak, while FFA does not result in such a change. We analyzed polarization data from VLA observations for six GPS sources to see if such a change in PA was present. Our results indicate that there is no significant evidence for 90° change in PA across the spectral peak, suggesting that FFA is more likely than SSA for low-frequency cutoffs in these sources.