Polarization and single-pulse micro-structure studies of Rotating Radio Transient J0139+3336 with FAST

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study of polarization and micro-structure is very important for understanding the radiation mechanism of Rotating Radio Transients (RRATs). Due to the limitations of telescope sensitivity and time resolution, studies of the polarization and micro-structure of RRATs have been rare in the past. In this work, we report on a high-time resolution and full polarization observation of RRAT J0139+3336 with the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST). A total of 96 burst pulses were detected in the 3-h observation. The degrees of linear and circular polarization and the shape of the polarization position angle (PPA) of the single pulses vary significantly. The average profile displays a small degree of linear and circular polarization, and the PPA exhibits a remarkably smooth and steep S-shaped curve, which are also characteristics of pulsars. The circular polarization in some single pulses demonstrates a clear sign change. We discuss the geometric structure of the emission beam based on the results from fitting the RVM model to the changes in the PPA. Using an autocorrelation analysis, the quasi-periodic micro-structure in the single pulse emission is detected with a median period of about 0.91 ms. We show that the position of RRAT J0139+3336 on the P–Pμ diagram falls in the normal pulsar (NP) region . The radio emission of RRAT J0139+3336 shows unique properties, such as the sign change in the circular polarization and quasi-periodicity in the micro-structure, which will provide important clues to the emission mechanism of RRATs.