Polarimetry at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

University Of Chicago, Chicago IL

Investigators

Abstract

AST 9987441 Hildebrand Techniques of far-infrared polarimetry developed at the University of Chicago have made it possible to produce maps of polarization at hundreds of points in individual clouds in our Galaxy. Maps of magnetic field lines in these clouds can be inferred by rotating the polarization vectors through 90 degrees. The principal objective of this project, led by Dr. Roger Hildebrand, is to test the hypothesis that radiation from stars embedded in clouds or radiation penetrating the clouds from the external stellar radiation field strongly facilitates magnetic alignment of the grains that are responsible for the thermal emission. A second objective is to determine the properties of magnetic fields in star forming regions. These investigations use the University of Chicago polarimeter, known as Hertz, on the Cal Tech Submillimeter Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This project is funded through the Galactic Astronomy Program. ***