Far infrared polarization of the Kleinmann--Low nebula in orion

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6331979

Gull, G E; Houck, J R; Mccarthy, J F; Forrest, W J; Harwit, M

Elongated dust grains aligned by local magnetic fields are thought to absorb background radiation and produce linear and circular polarization which exhibit strong wavelength dependence in the near infrared. The NASA Kuiper observatory 91 cm infrared telescope was used to observe polarization characteristics of the Kleinmann-Low nebula in four far infrared wavelength bands in order to detect emission from these same oriented grains at longer wavelengths, and determine whether this radiation shows a direction of polarization perpendicular to that seen in the near infrared. The polarization, if any, that characterized the radiation in the three longest wavelength filter positions (28-48 micron, 44-72 micron, and 70-115 micron) is small. The noisiest measurements were obtained in the 16-33 micron filter position. Possible explanations for the low polarization observed at long wavelengths are explored.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6331979
• Report Number(s): N-78-28025
• 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
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
COSMIC DUST
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED RADIATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEBULAE
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA