The rotationally modulated polarization of ξ Boo A

Abstract

We have observed the active star ξ Boo A (HD 131156A) with high precision broadband linear polarimetry contemporaneously with circular spectropolarimetry. We find both signals are modulated by the 6.43 d rotation period of ξ Boo A. The signals from the two techniques are 0.25 out of phase, consistent with the broadband linear polarization resulting from differential saturation of spectral lines in the global transverse magnetic field. The mean magnitude of the linear polarization signal is ∼4 ppm G–1 but its structure is complex and the amplitude of the variations suppressed relative to the longitudinal magnetic field. The result has important implications for current attempts to detect polarized light from hot Jupiters orbiting active stars in the combined light of the star and planet. In such work stellar activity will manifest as noise, both on the time-scale of stellar rotation, and on longer time-scales – where changes in activity level will manifest as a baseline shift between observing runs.