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Baxter, T 
ORCID: 0009-0004-4738-9022 and Kobayashi, S ORCID: 0000-0001-7946-4200
(2025)
Probing the axial symmetry of gamma-ray burst jets using afterglow polarimetry.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 543 (2).
pp. 1039-1047.
ISSN 0035-8711
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Abstract
Polarization measurements of gamma-ray burst afterglows provide a powerful tool for probing the structure of relativistic jets. In this study, we revisit polarization signals observed in gamma-ray burst afterglows, focusing on the effects of non-axisymmetric jet structures. To characterize these non-axisymmetric jets, we adopt a simple elliptical jet head model and investigate how deviations from axisymmetry influence the temporal evolution of polarization properties, particularly around the jet break. Our results show that the polarization degree curve typically exhibits two peaks for top-hat jets or a single peak for structured jets, even in the presence of an elliptical jet head. In non-axisymmetric jets, a complete drop in polarization between peaks is generally absent, and the position angle rotation between the peaks can deviate significantly from 90deg. In single-peak cases, the polarization position angle evolves gradually, contrasting with the constant position angle expected in axisymmetric jets. We also explore the implications of these findings for recent gamma-ray burst (GRB) events, including GRB 121024A, GRB 091018, GRB 020813, and GRB 210610B.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 5106 Nuclear and Plasma Physics; 51 Physical Sciences; 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences; Astronomy & Astrophysics; 5101 Astronomical sciences; 5107 Particle and high energy physics; 5109 Space sciences |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QB Astronomy Q Science > QC Physics |
| Divisions: | Astrophysics Research Institute |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press (OUP) |
| Date of acceptance: | 8 September 2025 |
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 6 November 2025 |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Nov 2025 16:47 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Nov 2025 17:00 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1093/mnras/staf1547 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27519 |
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