Stellar Polarimetry

Written by an experienced teacher and author, this must-have source for work with polarimetric equipment and polarimetry in astronomy conveys the knowledge of the technology and techniques needed to measure and interpret polarizations. As such, this monograph offers a brief introduction and refresher, while also covering in detail statistics and data treatment as well as telescope optics. For astronomers, physicists and those working in the optical industry. Stellar Polarimetry......Page 5 Contents......Page 9 Preface......Page 15 Part I History – Mathematics – Instruments – Observational Procedures – Polarigenic Mechanisms......Page 19 1.1 General History......Page 21 1.2 Early Astronomical Polarimetry......Page 32 1.3 The Dawning of Stellar Polarimetry......Page 34 1.4 The Discovery of Interstellar Polarization......Page 35 1.5 Intrinsic Polarization......Page 38 1.7 Polarization and Geometry......Page 40 1.8 Chirality and the Origin of Life......Page 42 1.9 Conclusion......Page 43 References......Page 45 2.1 Electromagnetic Waves......Page 51 2.2 The Ellipse Figure......Page 53 2.3 The Poincaré Sphere......Page 60 2.4 Conclusion......Page 62 References......Page 63 3.2 The Jones Calculus......Page 65 3.3 The Description of Scattering......Page 70 3.4 Poincaré Sphere......Page 73 References......Page 75 4.1 Introduction......Page 77 4.2 The Mueller Calculus......Page 81 4.3 Normalized Stokes Parameters......Page 83 4.4 The Practicality of Stokes Parameters......Page 84 4.5 Additivity Theorem for Small Polarizations......Page 86 4.6.2 Circular Polarization – Handedness......Page 89 4.7 Polarization Magnitudes......Page 93 References......Page 94 5.2 Basic Statistics......Page 97 5.3 The Statistics of p......Page 100 5.4 The Statistics of Position Angle......Page 104 5.5 Instrumental Correction......Page 106 5.6 Intrinsic/Interstellar Separation......Page 107 5.7.1 Polarization and Small Samples......Page 111 5.7.2 Detection of Polarizational Differences......Page 112 5.7.3 Data Assemblies......Page 113 5.7.4 Polarimetric Period Searches......Page 115 References......Page 116 6.1 Introduction......Page 119 6.2 Polarizers......Page 120 6.2.1 Dichroic Polarizers......Page 121 6.2.2 Birefringent Polarizers......Page 122 6.2.3 Reflection Polarizers......Page 127 6.3 Retarders......Page 128 6.3.1 Birefringent Retarders......Page 129 6.3.2 Reflection Retarders......Page 133 6.3.3 Tunable Wave Plates......Page 135 6.3.4 Axis Determination of Wave Plates......Page 136 6.4 Metallic Reflection......Page 137 6.5 Depolarizers......Page 138 6.6 Detectors......Page 139 6.7 Notes on Polarization and Related Observations......Page 141 References......Page 142 7.2 The Earth's Atmosphere......Page 145 7.2.2 Depolarization Effects......Page 146 7.2.4 Sky Background......Page 147 7.3 The Telescope Optics......Page 148 7.4 Optical Depolarization......Page 153 References......Page 155 8.1 Introduction......Page 157 8.2 Rotation of a Polarizer or Wave Plate......Page 159 8.3 Fixed Position Records......Page 164 8.4 Continuous Rotation Records......Page 167 8.5 Variable Phase Delay Modulators......Page 168 8.6 Simultaneous NSP Measurements......Page 169 8.7 Spatial Recording of the Polarimetric Modulation......Page 170 8.8 Spectropolarimetry......Page 172 8.9 Polarimetric Instruments......Page 174 8.10.1 Reference Frame......Page 179 8.10.2 Standard Stars......Page 181 8.10.3 Other Useful Catalogues......Page 185 References......Page 187 9.2.1 Zeeman Effect......Page 193 9.2.2 Hβ Magnetography......Page 198 9.2.3 Differential Saturation of Zeeman Components......Page 200 9.2.4 Zeeman–Doppler Imaging......Page 201 9.2.5 Resonance Radiation – The Hanle Effect......Page 203 9.2.6 Synchrotron Radiation......Page 206 9.3 Electron Scattering – A Simple Stellar Model......Page 208 References......Page 211 Part II The Interstellar Medium – Binary Stars – Early and Late Type Stars – Variable Stars......Page 213 10.2 Polarization Growth with Distance......Page 215 10.3.2 p/E(B-V)......Page 217 10.3.3 Relationship between p and R......Page 219 10.4 The p(λ) Curve......Page 221 10.5 Rotation of Position Angle......Page 225 10.6 Circular Polarization......Page 226 10.7 Origin and Alignment Mechanism......Page 228 10.8 DIBS......Page 231 10.9 Particle Types and Galactic Structure......Page 232 10.10 Stellar Clusters......Page 234 10.11 Simple Models......Page 236 10.12 Beyond the Galaxy......Page 243 References......Page 244 11.2 Eclipsing Binaries......Page 251 11.3 Close Binaries......Page 254 11.4 Binary Orbit Theory......Page 256 11.4.1 Data Analysis by a Geometric Method......Page 259 11.4.2 Analysis of Data by Fourier Methods......Page 261 11.5 AMHer Stars – Polars......Page 263 References to Binary Stars and Models......Page 267 References to AMHer Stars – Polars......Page 269 12.1 Introduction......Page 271 12.2 Magnetic and Ap Stars......Page 272 12.3 Helium Rich/Weak Stars......Page 281 12.4 White Dwarfs......Page 282 References to Magnetic and Ap Stars......Page 286 References to White Dwarfs......Page 288 13.1 Introduction......Page 291 13.2.1 Polarimetric Spectral Behaviour......Page 292 13.2.2 Temporal Variations......Page 299 13.3 Disc Orientations......Page 303 13.4 Be Star Models......Page 304 13.5 Herbig Ae/Be Stars......Page 311 13.6 Early-Type Supergiants......Page 314 13.7 Wolf–Rayet (WR) Stars......Page 317 13.8 Luminous Blue Variables......Page 320 References to Be Stars......Page 322 References to Disc Orientations......Page 324 References to Be Star Models......Page 325 References to Herbig Ae/Be Stars......Page 326 References to Wolf–Rayet (WR) Stars......Page 327 References to Luminous Blue Variables......Page 328 14.1 Introduction and Surveys......Page 329 14.2 Late-Type Supergiants......Page 331 14.3 Mira Variables......Page 333 14.4 AGB and RCorBor Stars......Page 336 14.5 Symbiotic Stars......Page 339 14.7 FK Comae Stars......Page 343 14.8 Infrared Stars......Page 344 14.8.1 Molecular Clouds......Page 346 14.9 Red dwarfs/BY Dra Stars......Page 347 14.10 Non-Extreme Late-Type Stars......Page 348 References to Introduction and Surveys......Page 349 References to Late-Type Supergiants......Page 350 References to Mira Variables......Page 351 References to Symbiotic Stars......Page 352 References to Infrared Stars/Molecular Clouds......Page 353 References to Non-Extreme Late-Type Stars......Page 354 15.1 Introduction......Page 355 15.2 X-Ray Sources......Page 356 15.2.1 SS433......Page 358 15.3 TTauri Stars......Page 359 15.4 Solar-Type Stars......Page 362 15.5 RSCan Ven (CVn) Stars......Page 364 15.6 RVTauri Stars......Page 367 15.7 Pulsating Stars......Page 368 15.8 Novae......Page 369 15.10 Pulsars......Page 372 15.11 Stars within Nebulosities and Stellar Discs......Page 373 15.12 Gravitational Lensing......Page 374 15.13 Extra-Solar Planets......Page 375 References to X-Ray Sources......Page 376 References to Solar Type Stars......Page 378 References to RVTauri Stars......Page 379 References to Novae and Supernovae......Page 380 References to Stars With Discs......Page 381 References to Extra-Solar Planets......Page 382 A.2 Optical Interfaces......Page 385 A.2.1 Reflection at a Denser Medium......Page 386 A.3 Reflection at a Dense- to Less-Dense Medium......Page 393 A.4 Metallic Reflection......Page 398 A.5 Handedness Calibration......Page 400 References......Page 402 Appendix B Papers of the AJ Series......Page 405 Appendix C Reference Abbreviations......Page 409 Acknowledgements......Page 413 Author Index......Page 415 Cited Stars/Objects......Page 425 General Index......Page 431