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Faraday rotation in magnetized plasma

What you are seeing: a linearly polarized radio wave entering a column of magnetized plasma. The polarization angle rotates by χ=RM λ2\chi = RM\, \lambda^2 over the path, where RM=8.12×105∫neB∥ dzRM = 8.12 \times 10^5 \int n_e B_\parallel\, \mathrm{d}z. Multi-wavelength view shows three colors rotating by different amounts (the λ2\lambda^2 signature)

Figure 1. Polarization rotation through magnetized plasma; chi(L) = RM lambda^2. Multi-wavelength helices show the wavelength scaling. Method: closed-form RM = 8.12e5 n_e B_par L.
B_par (uG)3.0
n_e (cm^-3)0.030
L (pc)1000
lambda (cm)21
presetP

WHAT TO TRY

  • Vary each control and watch the rail readouts respond.
  • Compare the diagnostic plot against the live scene.