Constraining the near-source relativistic wind medium using Fast Radio Burst circular polarization data

Om Gupta; Pawan Kumar; Paz Beniamini

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arXiv · 2607.01369

Constraining the near-source relativistic wind medium using Fast Radio Burst circular polarization data

Om Gupta·Pawan Kumar·Paz Beniamini

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Abstract

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) exhibit diverse spectro-temporal characteristics, which can probe vital propagation and source physics via Stokes polarimetry. We investigate whether the circular polarization (Stokes $V$) observed in some bursts is produced by Faraday conversion in the near-source wind of magnetars rather than being intrinsic to the source. Our calculation includes the increase in the effective mass of $e^\pm$ in the presence of the FRB wave. We find that Faraday conversion in the magnetar wind can explain the broad range of observed circular polarization in FRBs, including its frequent non-detection. Observationally derived upper limits on $V$ provide stringent constraints on the wind luminosity, magnetization, bulk Lorentz factor, and effective particle mass when ions are present. When available, frequency resolved Stokes spectra offer direct estimates of the wind environment. The Stokes parameters can undergo rapid oscillations with frequency in the high-wind/low-FRB-luminosity regime, resulting in Stokes-V depolarization. Bursts with significantly lower luminosities than typical FRBs can also develop measurable circular polarization, within the model framework. Additionally, separate zones are favored for significant circular polarization and rotation measure, when the model is applicable. The model constrains instantaneous wind parameters for several sources, including FRB 20201124A, FRB 20180301A, and SGR 1935+2154. This work represents the first instance in which properties of winds from compact objects associated with FRBs are inferred from polarization data.

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Om Gupta, Pawan Kumar, Paz Beniamini. 2026-07-01. Constraining the near-source relativistic wind medium using Fast Radio Burst circular polarization data. https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.01369

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