Polarimetric mapping of Orion using Millipol - Magnetic activity in BN/KL

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169811· OSTI ID:5756683

Leach, R W; Clemens, D P; Kane, B D; Barvainis, R ^[1]

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1. San Diego State Univ., CA (USA) Boston Univ., MA (USA) Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA (USA)

The spatial distribution of the polarized component of the thermal dust emission from the core of the Orion molecular cloud has been mapped over 15 positions at a wavelength of 1300 microns using the Millipol instrument on the NRAO 12 m telescope. The polarization directions deduced for the map positions are quite similar, implying that the embedded magnetic field is strong (of the order of 1 mG) and uniform in direction over the core of the cloud. The mean polarization percentage, 4.6 percent, is quite high, and two positions show polarization percentages of nearly 8 percent, the highest yet detected for polarized thermal dust emission. Finally, the polarization of the BN/KL position was found to be significantly lower than the polarizations toward positions 30 arcmin outside BN/KL. 20 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5756683
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 370; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC GASES
DISTRIBUTION
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MOLECULES
POLARIMETRY
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
SPACE
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
THERMAL RADIATION