Cyclotron spectra from inhomogeneous accretion columns. II. Polarization

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167856· OSTI ID:5356085

Wu, K; Chanmugam, G ^[1]

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1. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge (USA)

Circularly and linearly polarized radiation from inhomogeneous cyclotron emission regions with uniform magnetic field and temperature but different electron density profiles are studied. Calculations show that the inhomogeneous models generally produce larger polarization for low harmonics and smaller polarization for high harmonics compared to the homogeneous models. Polarization light curves for different inhomogeneous models with a wide variety of parameters are presented, providing handy theoretical results to compare with observations. The observed polarization light curves of ST LMi, EF Eri, and BL Hydri are fitted using an inhomogeneous model for the first time, and good fits are obtained, supporting the hypothesis that the cyclotron emission regions of AM Her systems have a complicated structure. 37 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5356085
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 344; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
CYCLOTRON RADIATION
DWARF STARS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
EMISSION SPECTRA
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
MAGNETIC STARS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
VARIABLE STARS
WHITE DWARF STARS