Influence of Strings with Axionic Content on the Polarization of Extragalactic Sources

Abstract

It is shown that the axion concentrated in electroweak strings which are consequently stabilized may produce a rotation of the polarization angle of radiation from extragalactic sources larger than that caused by a background field, and that axionic walls attached to global strings have an effect which depends on the frequency. We discuss the validity of the classical and quantum treatments of radiation and indicate that the latter produces conversion of linear into circular polarization. We describe possible anomalies in the observations which might suggest these influences of the axion.