Analysis of the Far-Infrared/Submillimeter Polarization Spectrum Based on Temperature Maps of Orion
J. E. Vaillancourt;
ApJS, 2002, 142, 53
ABSTRACT:We compile polarization data on Galactic molecular clouds from instruments spanning the wavelength range 60-1300 μm.
The polarization
spectrum in these clouds falls from 60 to 350 μm but rises from 350 to 1300
μm.
To explain this spectrum, we require a model in which the emission arises
from dust grains at multiple temperatures along the line of sight and in
which the polarizing efficiency of these grains is correlated with their
temperature.
In order to test this hypothesis, we collect flux data from the literature
and create spectral energy distributions (SEDs) in a region of the Orion A
molecular cloud.
Dust temperature distributions (DTDs) are estimated from
these SEDs on a point-by-point basis within the cloud.
We find cold, dense
cores associated with submillimeter flux peaks and warm dust associated
with the M42 H II region.
The SEDs are well fitted by both one- and
two-temperature components in the DTD.
While the results are consistent with the
multiple-temperature model, they do not provide a conclusive test.
However, we show that
this problem should be resolved with improved data.
Dissertation
submitted to the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of
Chicago, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D.
degree.
KEYWORDS: ism: dust, extinction, infrared: ism, ism: clouds, ism: individual: alphanumeric: omc-1, polarization, submillimeter
PERSOKEY:polarisation, fir, submillimeter, dust, molecular clouds, ,
CODE: vaillancourt2002