Polarization leakage in epoch of reionization windows - I. Low Frequency Array observations of the 3C196 field
- Asad, K. M. B.
- Koopmans, L. V. E.
- Jelic, Vibor
- Pandey, V. N.
- Ghosh, A.
- Abdalla, F. B.
- Bernardi, G.
- Brentjens, M. A.
- de Bruyn, A. G.
- Bus, S.
- Ciardi, B.
- Chapman, E.
- Daiboo, S.
- Fernandez, E. R.
- Harker, G.
- Iliev, I. T.
- Jensen, H.
- Martinez-Rubi, O.
- Mellema, G.
- Mevius, M.
- Offringa, A. R.
- Patil, A. H.
- Schaye, J.
- Thomas, R. M.
- van der Tol, S.
- Vedantham, H. K.
- Yatawatta, S.
- Zaroubi, S.
DOIAbstract
Detection of the 21-cm signal coming from the epoch of reionization (EoR) is challenging especially because, even after removing the foregrounds, the residual Stokes I maps contain leakage from polarized emission that can mimic the signal. Here, we discuss the instrumental polarization of Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) and present realistic simulations of the leakages between Stokes parameters. From the LOFAR observations of polarized emission in the 3C196 field, we have quantified the level of polarization leakage caused by the nominal model beam of LOFAR, and compared it with the EoR signal using power spectrum analysis. We found that at 134-166 MHz, within the central 4° of the field the (Q, U) → I leakage power is lower than the EoR signal...
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