Circular Polarization Variability in Extragalactic Sources on Time Scales of Months to Decades.

We present previously unpublished circular polarization (cp) measurements at 4.8 and 8.0 GHz made with the University of Michigan 26-meter prime focus telescope during 1978–1984 and results of a new observational program during the past two years. Based on the preliminary analysis of our recent data, eight sources were detected at 4.8 GHz with average degrees of cp ranging from ≤ 0.1% to ≥ 1%. The results are compared with observations at other frequencies and with linear polarization and total flux density variability in the sources. The behavior of the cp variability observed to date is consistent with stochastic variations produced by mode conversion in transient, opaque emitting regions in the sources. The observed sign changes observed between different epochs and different frequencies are not consistent with the hypothesis that sources maintain a fixed handedness of cp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]