Application of the Hanle effect to the measurement of magnetic fields in astrophysics
Abstract
A theory of the Hanle effect, proposed by House (1970) is used as a basis to study the possibility of determining the strength and orientation of a magnetic field from measurements of linear polarization and the maximum polarization angle. It is shown that only the polarity of a magnetic field can be determined reliably from measurements made in a single spectral line. The magnetic field strength and polarity can be reliably determined from measurements in several spectral lines, however, the orientation of the field vector cannot be determined reliably.
- Publication:
-
Izvestiya Ordena Trudovogo Krasnogo Znameni Krymskoj Astrofizicheskoj Observatorii
- Pub Date:
- 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979IzKry..60..108G
- Keywords:
-
- Line Spectra;
- Linear Polarization;
- Magnetic Flux;
- Solar Magnetic Field;
- Solar Atmosphere;
- Spatial Distribution;
- Zeeman Effect;
- Astrophysics