Method of description and the properties of the Fourier components of periodically variable linear polarization

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · Sov. Astron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6591133

Karitskaya, E A; Bochkarev, N G

When interpreting observations of variable polarization of the emission of binary stars and other objects the problem arises of comparing the observed and calculated polarization curves. A description of the shape of the polarization phase curve in the (Q x U) plane independent of the choice of the zero-point of the polarization position angle is proposed for periodically variable, linearly polarized radiation on the basis of the expansion of the Stokes parameters Q and U in Fourier series. In the (Q x U) plane each Fourier component of the Stokes parameters Q and U consists of an ellipse characterized by four geometrical parameters. Several examples of the description of calculated curves of polarization of the optical emission of binary x-ray systems are given for cases when the scattering takes place in optically thick media: for scattering of the light of a tidally deformed star in its atmosphere and of the light of a star of an accretion disk, both for one lying in the orbital plane and an inclined and precessing disk. Certain properties of the polarization phase curves in the (Q x U) plane resulting from the symmetry properties of rotating systems are pointed out.

• Research Organization: Astronomical Council, USSR Academy of Sciences
• OSTI ID: 6591133
• Journal Information: Sov. Astron. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Vol. 27:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
LIGHT SCATTERING
VISIBLE RADIATION
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
POLARIZATION
FOURIER ANALYSIS
ACCRETION DISKS
HARMONICS
POLARIMETERS
VARIATIONS
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
OSCILLATIONS
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
STARS
640103* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources- (-1987)
640102 - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources