Abstract
Koch and Pfeiffer have reported the presence of linear polarization in broad-band observations of the light from the spotted dwarf BY Dra. Here the hypothesis that the polarization is produced by the cumulative effects of the Zeeman patterns of individual absorption lines within the bandpass is examined. The polarization expected in a cool (theta/sub eff/=1.5) dwarf observed in UBVR filters is computed. Comparing results with observations of BY Dra, it is found that the surface field strength on this star is at times of order 10 kilogauss. Peak linear polarization is observed to occur when the site previously occupied by a large starspot is optimally visible. It is suggested that the presence of fields of order 10 kilogauss in an old bipolar region is consistent with a recent model of starspots on a cool dwarf. (AIP)
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