Polarimetry of the H2 emission from the Orion Molecular Cloud

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Hydrogen Clouds, Interstellar Matter, Linear Polarization, Molecular Clouds, Near Infrared Radiation, Polarimetry, Cosmic Dust, Gas Temperature, Interstellar Gas, Interstellar Magnetic Fields, Orion Nebula

Scientific paper

We have measured the linear polarization of the υ = 1 → 0 S(1) emission of molecular hydrogen at three positions in the Orion Molecular Cloud. To the north-west of BNKL, at H2 Peak 1 and Peak 5, we find p ≃ 10 per cent in position angle 110°, in good agreement with previous continuum polarization measurements for the nearby source IRS 2. At H2 Peak 2 to the south-east, we find p ≃ 0 percent. The absence of H2 emission-line polarization at Peak 2 is inconsistent with the scattering mechanism proposed by Eisässer & Staude and also with the shock-induced grain alignment mechanism discussed by Johnson et al. The observed spatial variations in polarization may be due to small-scale structure in the magnetic field of the cloud, or to local differences in the relative temperatures of the gas and dust.

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