Polarization of Fast Radio Bursts: radiation mechanisms and propagation effects

Understand

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are observed to be highly polarized.

• Most have high linear polarization but a small fraction show significant circular polarization.
• We systematically investigate a variety of polarization mechanisms of FRBs within the magnetar theoretical framework considering two emission sites inside and outside the magnetosphere.
• For each site, we discuss both intrinsic radiation mechanisms and propagation effects.