Abstract
Polarized far-infrared (FIR) and submillimeter emission is calculated for models of nonspherical dust grains that are constrained to reproduce the observed wavelength-dependent extinction and polarization of starlight. For emission from regions where the magnetic field is perpendicular to the line of sight, the FIR emission is expected to have substantial linear polarization at wavelengths λ ≳ 100 μm, but the degree of linear polarization, and its variation with wavelength, is model dependent. Models in which the starlight polarization is produced by both amorphous silicate and graphite grains have linear polarizations between 6% and 10% at λ>100 μm, but for some models in which only silicate grains are spheroidal, the linear polarization increases from about 3% at 100 μm to about 15% at 1 mm. We briefly discuss the implications of these results for the removal of the polarized dust emission from maps of the cosmic microwave background, as well as the possibility of discriminating among interstellar dust models based on observations of FIR and submillimeter linear polarization.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
