COBE DIRBE near-infrared polarimetry of the zodiacal light: Initial results
G. B. Berriman, N. W. Boggess, M. G. Hauser, T. Kelsall, C. M. Lisse, S. H. Moseley, W. T. Reach, R. F. Silverberg;
ApJ, 1994, 431, L63
ABSTRACT:This Letter describes near-infrared polarimetry of the zodiacal light at 2.2 micrometers, measured with the Diffuse Infrared Background
Experiment (DIRBE) aboard the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)
spacecraft.
The polarization is due to scattering of sunlight.
The polarization
vector is perpendicular to the scattering plane, and its observed amplitude
on the ecliptic equator at an elongation of 90 deg and ecliptic longitude
of 10 deg declines from 12.0 +/- 0.4% at 1.25 micrometers to 8.0 +/- 0.6% at
3.5 micrometers (cf.
16% in the visible); the principal source of
uncertainty is photometric noise due to stars.
The observed near-infrared colors
at this location are redder than Solar, but at 3.5 micrometers this is due
at least in part to the thermal emission contribution from the
interplanetary dust.
Mie theory calculations show that both polarizations and
colors are important in constraining models of interplanetary dust.
KEYWORDS: astronomical photometry, infrared astronomy, infrared instruments, interplanetary dust, near infrared radiation, optical polarization, polarimeters, solar system, zodiacal light, cosmic background explorer satellite, mie scattering, radiometers, solar orbits, thermal emission
PERSOKEY:polarisation, nir, ZODIACAL LIGHT, dirbe, ,
CODE: berriman94