Stokes polarimetry of main-line OH emission from stellar masers

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (26) References (17) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Stokes polarimetry of main-line OH emission from stellar masers. Claussen, M. J. ; Fix, J. D. Abstract Ground-state OH maser emission has now been detected from very many cool giant and supergiant stars. In the present investigation, a simple model is used to demonstrate that the simultaneous observation of OH emission in all four Stokes parameters can be useful in probing the magnetic field structure and the density structure of the circumstellar shell as well as the maser process itself. Eight stars were observed in all four Stokes parameters at one or both of the main lines of OH maser emission. Three sources from this sample have at least one feature which is linearly polarized. The unusual OH source IRC +10420 has in the +61.6 km/s feature (and associated circular features) perhaps the best example of Zeeman splitting observed in stellar OH masers. Since there is an absence of clear Zeeman patterns in other sources, a simple model of the circumstellar shell was constructed, taking into account a magnetic field structure similar to that of the solar wind. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: December 1982 DOI: 10.1086/160490 Bibcode: 1982ApJ...263..153C Keywords: Hydroxyl Emission; Late Stars; Masers; Stellar Envelopes; Stellar Radiation; Variable Stars; Giant Stars; Ground State; Stellar Magnetic Fields; Stellar Models; Stokes Law Of Radiation; Zeeman Effect; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (10)