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Polarized Emission from Interstellar Dust

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2007

J.E. Vaillancourt*
Affiliation:
Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Abstract


Observations of far-infrared (FIR) and submillimeter (SMM) polarizedemission are used to study magnetic fields and dust grains in denseregions on the interstellar medium (ISM). These observations placeconstraints on models of molecular clouds, star-formation, grainalignment mechanisms, and grain size, shape, and composition.
The FIR/SMM polarization is strongly dependent onwavelength. We have attributed this wavelength dependence to samplingdifferent grain populations at different temperatures. To date, mostobservations of polarized emission have been inthe densest regions of the ISM. Extending these observations toregions of the diffuse ISM, and to microwave frequencies, will provideadditional tests of grain and alignment models.
An understanding of polarized microwave emission from dust is key toan accurate measurement of the polarization of the cosmic microwavebackground. The microwave polarization spectrum will put limits on thecontributions to polarized emission from spinning dust and vibratingmagnetic dust.


Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2007

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