Optical Polarization of the Crab-like Supernova Remnant 0540-693 in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Abstract
We have measured the linear optical (V band) polarization in the nebula surrounding the Large Magellanic Cloud pulsar 0540-693 and find a positive result (integrated over the nebula) of P = 5.6% +/- 1.0%, oriented at an angle 79^deg^ +/- 5^deg^ east of north. Our technique corrects for but does not determine the interstellar polarization, which may be of order 2%. This result is similar to the integrated optical polarization of the Crab Nebula and is strong confirmation of a synchrotron origin for the 0540 nebular emission.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1086/168524
- Bibcode:
- 1990ApJ...352..167C
- Keywords:
-
- Crab Nebula;
- Magellanic Clouds;
- Optical Polarization;
- Supernova Remnants;
- Emission Spectra;
- Linear Polarization;
- Probability Distribution Functions;
- Synchrotron Radiation;
- Astrophysics;
- GALAXIES: MAGELLANIC CLOUDS;
- NEBULAE: CRAB NEBULA;
- NEBULAE: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: SNR 0540-69.3;
- NEBULAE: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS;
- POLARIZATION;
- RADIATION MECHANISMS