Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: We have carried out multicolor linear polarimetry ( UBVRI ) of the brightest stars in the area of the open cluster Trumpler 27. Our data show a high level of polarization in the stellar light with a considerable dispersion, from P = 4% to P = 9.5%. The polarization vectors of the cluster members appear to be aligned. Foreground polarization was estimated from the data of some nonmember objects, for which two different components were resolved: the first one associated with a dust cloud close to the Sun producing P λmax = 1.3% and θ = 146°, and a second component, the main source of polarization for the cluster members, originating in another dust cloud, which polarizes the light in the direction of θ = 29 5. From a detailed analysis, we found that the two components have associated values E B - V < 0.45 for the first one and E B - V > 0.75 for the other. Due the difference in the orientation of both polarization vectors, almost 90° (180° at the Stokes representation), the first cloud (θ ∼ 146°) depolarizes the light strongly polarized by the second one (θ ∼ 29 5).
Source: The Astronomical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/301562
Authors: Carlos Feinstein,, Gustavo Baume,, Ruben Vazquez,, Virpi Niemela,, Miguel Angel Cerruti
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1986208904