Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jun 1989
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989apj...341..707j&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 341, June 15, 1989, p. 707-717.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
14
Astronomical Photometry, Galaxies, Infrared Sources (Astronomy), Luminosity, Polarimetry, Galactic Structure, Infrared Astronomy, Interstellar Matter
Scientific paper
Polarimetric observations at 1.2, 1.65, and 2.2 microns are presented for six infrared luminous galaxies. The polarimetric properties of these galaxies span a wide range of behavior from a simple screen of aligned dust grains in Arp 220 to powerful nonthermal emission in IRAS 05189-2524. Mrk 231 shows a strong rise in polarization to the blue which can be modeled as scattering from a moderately obscured source. UGC 5101 show a very peculiar and dramatic rise in polarization from 1 to 2.2 microns, suggesting dilution of a steep nonthermal source at the shorter wavelengths. NGC 6240 is only weakly polarized and Mrk 273 is unpolarized at the 0.4 percent level in the near infrared. The galaxies with the faintest absolute K magnitudes, show weak polarization, suggesting the near-infrared light from their nuclear region is not associated with the dusty and very luminous source of longer wavelength emission unless the magnetic field within this dusty region is extremely disordered. The data suggests that very luminous galaxies with an energy distribution dominated by heated dust are likely to show weak simple interstellar polarization whereas galaxies with more quasar-like continua are likely to show unusual and more complex polarimetric behavior.
Jones Terry Jay
Klebe Dimitri
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