Intensity and polarization of radiation reflected from accretion disc

Abstract

We consider the reflection of non-polarized radiation from the point-like sources above the accretion discs both the optically thick and optically thin. We investigate the dependence of the polarization of reflected radiation on the aperture angle of incident radiation. The aperture angle is determined by the radius of accretion disc and the height of the source above the disc. For optically thick accretion discs we show that, if the aperture angle is smaller 70 grad, then the wave electric field oscillations of reflected radiation are parallel to the accretion disc plane. For aperture angle greater than 70 grad the electric field oscillations are parallel to the plane "normal to accretion disc - the line of sight". The latter also holds for reflection from the optically thin accretion disc independent of the aperture angle value.