The new magnetic white dwarf PG 1031 + 234 - Polarization and field structure at more than 500 milion Gauss

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (102) References (34) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The New Magnetic White Dwarf PG 1031+234: Polarization and Field Structure at More than 500 Million Gauss Schmidt, Gary D. ; West, Steven C. ; Liebert, James ; Green, Richard F. ; Stockman, H. S. Abstract PG 1031+234 is a newly discovered rotating, magnetic white dwarf. Its optical light is highly polarized, Pmax ≈ 6%, Vmax ≈ -12%, and strongly modulated on the 3 hr 24 minute rotation period. Optical and UV spectrophotometry reveal a spectrum of diffuse absorption features which match Zeeman calculations of hydrogen in fields 200 - 500×106G. The authors discuss the origin of polarized emission from a cold magnetized plasma and derive the polarization characteristics of the propagation eigenmodes. The results are used to model the polarization behavior of PG 1031+234 using crude approximations to the radiation physics and a straightforward geometric analysis. The observations can be reproduced by a rotating star containing an oblique centered dipole which is punctuated near its magnetic equator by a strong magnetic spot. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1986 DOI: 10.1086/164593 Bibcode: 1986ApJ...309..218S Keywords: Magnetic Stars; Polarimetry; Stellar Magnetic Fields; Stellar Radiation; Stellar Spectrophotometry; White Dwarf Stars; Absorption Spectra; H Lines; Space Plasmas; Spectral Energy Distribution; Stellar Rotation; Zeeman Effect; Astrophysics; POLARIZATION; STARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: PG 1031; 234; STARS: MAGNETIC; STARS: WHITE DWARFS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2) MAST (1)