Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Apr 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997a%26as..122...95c&link_type=abstract
A & A Supplement series, Vol. 122, April I 1997, 95-109.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
12
Ism: Chamacleon Clouds, Dust Extinction, Atoms, Molecules, Polarization, Infrared: Ism: Continuum
Scientific paper
We present optical polarimetry and high resolution spectroscopy of a sample of stars toward the Chamaeleon I dark cloud. We use our polarimetry which includes 33 stars to study the wavelength dependence of the degree and position angle of polarization. From fits to the normalized wavelength dependence of interstellar polarization, we derive estimates of lambdaMax ranging from 4500 \AA to 6700 \AA, and PMax ranging from 3 to 8%. The values of lambdaMax were found to be well correlated with the IRAS 100 micron intensity, while PMax was found to increase with E_{B-V}. High resolution spectra of the Ca II, CH, and CH^{+} lines were obtained for 10 stars, which show two components of Ca II in absorption at 3.0 < vLSR < 5 km s^{-1}, and vLSR= -3.0 km s^{-1} and a single strong molecular CH absorption component at 3.0 < vLSR < 5.0 km s^{-1}. From our data we found, by interpretation of the various correlations between the polarimetry, photometry and IRAS fluxes, the following: the probable presence of shocked molecular gas; a warm molecular CH component; small dust grains at the edges of the cloud, and larger grains in the central parts, which are causing the polarization. Our results provide a consistent picture of the gas and dust content in the Cha I region, where larger grains, responsible of the starlight polarization, exist in the center of the cloud, surrounded by envelopes of warmer molecular and atomic material. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory at La Silla, Chile.
Covino Elvira
Palazzi Eliana
Penprase Bryan Edward
Schwarz Hugo E.
Terranegra L.
No associations
LandOfFree
Optical polarimetry, high--resolution spectroscopy and IR analysis of the Chamaeleon I dark cloud does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Optical polarimetry, high--resolution spectroscopy and IR analysis of the Chamaeleon I dark cloud, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical polarimetry, high--resolution spectroscopy and IR analysis of the Chamaeleon I dark cloud will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1315756