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Discovery of Interstellar Circular Polarization in the Direction of the Crab Nebula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2015

P. G. Martin ,
R. Illing  and
J. R. P. Angel
P. G. Martin*
Affiliation:
Institute of Theoretical Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge, England
R. Illing
Affiliation:
Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027, U.S.A.
J. R. P. Angel
Affiliation:
Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10027, U.S.A.
*
*Present address: Dept. of Astronomy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

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A search in many small regions of the Crab Nebula has resulted in the detection of a small component of circular polarization. The variation of the sign and magnitude with position in the Nebula indicates that the polarization is of interstellar origin. On the basis of the polarity, strength, and colour dependence, it is concluded that the composition of the aligned grains causing this polarization is dielectric. Metallic particles are clearly ruled out.

Type
Part IV Interstellar Polarization
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 52: Interstellar Dust and Related Topics , 1973 , pp. 169 - 179
Copyright
Copyright © Reidel 1973 

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