Polarization of Radiation from Distant Stars by the Interstellar Medium
Abstract
PHOTOMETRIC observations for the detection of partially polarized radiation from eclipsing binary stars have been in progress at Yerkes Observatory, of the University of Chicago, for several years with the view of establishing observationally the effect pointed out by Chandrasekhar that the continuous radiation of early-type stars should be polarized1,2. On the assumption that the opacity of early-type stars is due to scattering by electrons, the continuous radiation emerging from a star should be polarized with a maximum of polarization of 11 per cent at the limb. Since the presence of this polarization can be detected only when the early-type star is partially eclipsed by a larger late-type companion of the system, the effect is masked by radiation from this companion, so that the expected maximum observable effect is only of the order of 1.2 per cent in the one case investigated (RY Persei).
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- February 1949
- DOI:
- 10.1038/163283a0
- Bibcode:
- 1949Natur.163..283H