Recent results on polarization of T Tauri stars and other young stellar objects

Abstract

Recent results on observations and models of polarization of T Tauri stars (TTS) and other young stellar objects (YSO's) are presented. In particular, the difference in polarization properties between the classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) and the weak-line T Tauri stars (WTTS) is made. A correlation between polarization and rotation period is searched for but not found. Observations of polarization maps for many young stars are considered. Two types of models have been proposed to explain these observations. Current evidence favors single and multiple scattering in flattened, optically thick, structures, i.e. disks, around many TTS. In particular, the size of the optically thick part of the disks, and their inclination to our line of sight can determined for published polarization maps.