Other
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21348601a&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #486.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.458
Other
Scientific paper
Grain alignment was for a long time thought to be driven by grain spin-up caused by the ejection of newly formed H2 molecules from the grain surfaces. Modern theory has downplayed the likely contribution from such "Purcell Alignment", instead favoring direct radiative torques on the grains, but does leave a possible secondary role for "pin-wheel” torques. To observationally address the contribution of Purcell/pin-wheel alignment, we are studying the wavelength dependent polarization induced by dust in the reflection nebula IC 63.
In a pilot study we found a tantalizing indication of active Purcell alignment, in that one sightline probing an area of NIR fluorescent emission showed both a higher level of polarization and a smaller wavelength of maximum polarization - both tracers of enhanced grain alignment - than other sightlines through the nebula. We will discuss this pilot study and recent follow-up optical spectropolarimetry and H-band imaging polarimetry of the nebula.
Andersson Bengt-Goran
Clemens Dennis
Piirola Vilppu
Pinnick April
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