Distant probes of rotation measure structure: where is the Faraday rotation towards the Magellanic Leading Arm?

Faraday rotation measures (RMs) should be interpreted with caution because there could be multiple magneto-ionized medium components that contribute to the net Faraday rotation along sightlines. We introduce a simple test using Galactic diffuse polarized emission that evaluates whether structures evident in RM observations are associated with distant circumgalactic medium or foreground interstellar medium. We focus on the Magellanic Leading Arm region where a clear excess of RM was previously reported. There are two gaseous objects standing out in this direction: the distant Magellanic Leading Arm and the nearby Antlia supernova remnant (SNR). We recognized narrow depolarized filaments in the 2.3 GHz S-band Polarization All Sky Survey image that overlaps with the reported RM excess. We suggest that there is a steep gradient in Faraday rotation in a foreground screen arising from the Antlia SNR. The estimated strength of the line-of-sight component of the magnetic field is B-parallel to similar to 5 mu G, assuming that the excess of RM is entirely an outcome of the magnetized supernova shell. Our analysis indicates that the overlap between the RM excess and the Magellanic Leading Arm is only a remarkable coincidence. We suggest for future RM grid studies that checking Galactic diffuse polarization maps is a convenient way to identify local Faraday screens.

Automated summary

Faraday rotation measures should be interpreted cautiously due to potential contributions from multiple magneto-ionized medium components. A simple test using Galactic diffuse polarized emission can help evaluate whether observed structures in RM are related to distant circumgalactic medium or foreground interstellar medium. The overlap between RM excess and the Magellanic Leading Arm appears to be a remarkable coincidence.