The far-infrared polarization of the Orion nebula
D. P. Gonatas, G. A. Engargiola, R. H. Hildebrand, S. R. Platt, X. D. Wu, J. A. Davidson, G. Novak, D. K. Aitken, C. Smith;
ApJ, 1990, 357, 132
ABSTRACT:Polarization of the 100 micron thermal emission from 10 points in the Orion nebula has
been measured.
At one of the positions the degree, 5.7 percent, is the
largest far-infrared polarization yet discovered.
Except at a position in
the barlike structure to the south, the position angles of the
polarization vectors are well-ordered, suggesting that a uniform magnetic field
threads the cloud.
The magnetic field strength is estimated to be between 0.7
and 4 mG.
The relationship of the degrees of polarization to the physical
conditions in the cloud is discussed.
KEYWORDS: far infrared radiation, interstellar magnetic fields, molecular clouds, orion nebula, polarimeters, cosmic dust, hydrogen atoms, line spectra, star formation
PERSOKEY:polarisation, fir, molecular clouds, magnetic field, ,
CODE: gonatas90