The polarization of the far-infrared radiation from the Galactic center

M. W. Werner; J. A. Davidson; M. Morris; G. Novak; S. R. Platt; R. H. Hildebrand

doi:10.1086/166781

The polarization of the far-infrared radiation from the Galactic center

M. W. Werner, J. A. Davidson, M. Morris, G. Novak, S. R. Platt, R. H. Hildebrand

School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Abstract

The first detection of linear polarization of the far-infrared (100-micron) radiation from the about 3-pc-diameter dust ring surrounding the galactic nucleus is reported. The percentage of polarization is between 1 and 2 percent at the three measured positions. It is argued that the polarized radiation is produced by thermal emission from elongated interstellar grains oriented by the local magnetic field. The dust ring is optically thin at 100 microns; therefore the observations sample dust through the entire depth of the cloud and are free of confusing effects due to embedded sources, scattering, or selective absorption. These data provide the first information about the configuration of the magnetic field in the dust ring.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	729-734
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal
Volume	333
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/166781
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 1988

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10.1086/166781

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988ApJ...333..729W

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title = "The polarization of the far-infrared radiation from the Galactic center",

abstract = "The first detection of linear polarization of the far-infrared (100-micron) radiation from the about 3-pc-diameter dust ring surrounding the galactic nucleus is reported. The percentage of polarization is between 1 and 2 percent at the three measured positions. It is argued that the polarized radiation is produced by thermal emission from elongated interstellar grains oriented by the local magnetic field. The dust ring is optically thin at 100 microns; therefore the observations sample dust through the entire depth of the cloud and are free of confusing effects due to embedded sources, scattering, or selective absorption. These data provide the first information about the configuration of the magnetic field in the dust ring.",

keywords = "Cosmic Dust, Far Infrared Radiation, Galactic Nuclei, Infrared Sources (Astronomy), Linear Polarization, Thermal Emission, H Ii Regions, Interstellar Magnetic Fields, Interstellar Matter, Star Clusters",

author = "Werner, {M. W.} and Davidson, {J. A.} and M. Morris and G. Novak and Platt, {S. R.} and Hildebrand, {R. H.}",

year = "1988",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/166781",

language = "English",

volume = "333",

pages = "729--734",

journal = "The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The polarization of the far-infrared radiation from the Galactic center

AU - Werner, M. W.

AU - Davidson, J. A.

AU - Morris, M.

AU - Novak, G.

AU - Platt, S. R.

AU - Hildebrand, R. H.

PY - 1988/10/1

Y1 - 1988/10/1

N2 - The first detection of linear polarization of the far-infrared (100-micron) radiation from the about 3-pc-diameter dust ring surrounding the galactic nucleus is reported. The percentage of polarization is between 1 and 2 percent at the three measured positions. It is argued that the polarized radiation is produced by thermal emission from elongated interstellar grains oriented by the local magnetic field. The dust ring is optically thin at 100 microns; therefore the observations sample dust through the entire depth of the cloud and are free of confusing effects due to embedded sources, scattering, or selective absorption. These data provide the first information about the configuration of the magnetic field in the dust ring.

AB - The first detection of linear polarization of the far-infrared (100-micron) radiation from the about 3-pc-diameter dust ring surrounding the galactic nucleus is reported. The percentage of polarization is between 1 and 2 percent at the three measured positions. It is argued that the polarized radiation is produced by thermal emission from elongated interstellar grains oriented by the local magnetic field. The dust ring is optically thin at 100 microns; therefore the observations sample dust through the entire depth of the cloud and are free of confusing effects due to embedded sources, scattering, or selective absorption. These data provide the first information about the configuration of the magnetic field in the dust ring.

KW - Cosmic Dust

KW - Far Infrared Radiation

KW - Galactic Nuclei

KW - Infrared Sources (Astronomy)

KW - Linear Polarization

KW - Thermal Emission

KW - H Ii Regions

KW - Interstellar Magnetic Fields

KW - Interstellar Matter

KW - Star Clusters

U2 - 10.1086/166781

DO - 10.1086/166781

M3 - Article

VL - 333

SP - 729

EP - 734

JO - The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics

JF - The Astrophysical Journal: an international review of astronomy and astronomical physics

SN - 0004-637X

ER -