Algol - A further study of the optical polarization

Details Algol - A further study of the optical polarization Algol - A further study of the optical polarization

Jan 1981

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981apj...243..557k&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 243, Jan. 15, 1981, p. 557-566. NASA-supported research.

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17

Algol, Eclipsing Binary Stars, Optical Polarization, Stellar Radiation, Lagrangian Equilibrium Points, Polarimetry, Polarized Radiation, Triple Stars

Scientific paper

Results of a study of the phase-locked optical polarization of the Algol triple star system are presented. Polarimetry was obtained in the B filter during 75 nights from 1979 to 1980, and results were folded on the AB orbital period for the equatorial Stokes parameters Q and U. As expected for a nearly edge-on system, the polarization variations are predominantly in one direction of the Stokes-vector plane, and are mainly second-harmonic in character. The variable polarization indicates an eigendirection for the AB system at an angle of 137 + or - 4 deg, and a projected major axis of the third star at 133 + or - 3 deg with respect to the AB system. Considerations of the lowest-order theories of polarizing mechanisms, including limb polarization and reflection, indicate that the AB and AB-C orbital planes are almost normal to each other, rather than coplanar. An angular splitting in the Q-U curve between the two quadrature phases 0.25 and 0.75 is also found which can be explained by centrifugal flattening of the secondary's Roche lobe, or reflection from an optically thick, flattened gas cloud near the L1 point.

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