Circular polarization in 1612 MHz OH maser emission from OH/IR stars

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169780· OSTI ID:5757430

Zell, P; Fix, J D ^[1]

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1. Iowa Univ., Iowa City (USA)

In order to study the incidence of circular polarization in the 1612 MHz OH emission from envelopes of OH/IR stars, the Arecibo radio telescope was used to obtain high-resolution, high signal-to-noise 1612 MHz spectra in both circular polarizations for several OH/IR stars. The method of Troland and Heiles (1982) was used to estimate the intensities of magnetic fields in the envelopes. The fields appear to have complex structures, and intensities on the order of 1-100 microG. The spectra are weakly polarized, probably as a result of weakly polarized emission from individual emitting elements. Integration over the Stokes parameter V yields nonzero results for three of the stars, suggesting that another polarizing mechanism (in addition to simple Zeeman splittings) is at work. 12 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5757430
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 369; 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
AMPLIFIERS
ANTENNAS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EMISSION SPECTRA
EQUIPMENT
HYDROXYL RADICALS
INFRARED RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASERS
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
RADICALS
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RADIO TELESCOPES
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SPECTRA
STARS
STOKES PARAMETERS
TELESCOPES