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Interstellar Polarization and Magnetic Fields

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Interstellar Magnetic Fields

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Abstract

Since the work of Davis and Greenstein, polarization of starlight is quite gene­rally considered as one of the most spectacular manifestation of the presence of magnetic fields in the interstellar space. If polarization measurements are quali­tatively able to indicate the general pattern of the magnetic fields, a quantita­tive analysis seems more difficult to work out. A first purpose of this paper is therefore to present a synthetic view of the theory, in order to discuss the rela­tionship between the magnetic field strength and the observed quantities. Using then some recent observations of particular interest, because they correspond to different interstellar physical conditions, it is shown that any attempt to make a quantitative determination of the magnetic field from polarization results remains somewhat hazardous. However, rough estimate and scaling appear possible in some cases.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire Royal de Belgique, Avenue Circulaire 3, B-1180, Bruxelles, Belgium

    P. Cugnon

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  1. P. Cugnon
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Auf dem Hügel 69, D-5300, Bonn 1, Fed. Rep. of Germany

    Rainer Beck  & Roland Gräve  & 

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© 1987 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cugnon, P. (1987). Interstellar Polarization and Magnetic Fields. In: Beck, R., Gräve, R. (eds) Interstellar Magnetic Fields. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72621-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-72621-7_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-72623-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-72621-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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