Hale: A Far-infrared Polarimeter for SOFIA

Far-infrared polarimetry is a technique for mapping magnetic fields in dense and highly obscured regions of the interstellar medium. We will discuss the science goals and instrument design for the Hale far-infrared polarimeter, a proposed second generation instrument for SOFIA. Hale's primary scientific goal will be to test theories of star formation by imaging magnetic fields in star forming regions. An important feature of the instrument will be the capability to observe at multiple far-infrared wavelengths, which will allow us to separately image fields in warm and cool regions along the same line of sight. Polarimetry with SOFIA represents the only way to accomplish this separation. Among the many observations that we'll make with this instrument will be the first far-infrared polarimetric survey of Bok globules with embedded protostars.