Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T03:27:58.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Maser polarization and magnetic fields

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2012

W. H. T. Vlemmings
W. H. T. Vlemmings*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Onsala Space Observatory, SE-439 92 Onsala, Sweden
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Maser polarization observations can reveal unique information on the magnetic field strength and structure for a large number of very different astronomical objects. As the different masers for which polarization is measured, such as silicon-monoxide, water, hydroxil and methanol, probe different physical conditions, the masers can even be used to determine for example the relation between magnetic field and density. In particular, maser polarization observations have improved our understanding of the magnetic field strength in, among others, the envelopes around evolved stars, Planetary Nebulae (PNe), massive star forming regions, supernova remnants and megamaser galaxies. This review presents an overview of maser polarization observations and magnetic field determinations of the last several years and discusses some of the theoretical considerations needed for a proper maser polarization analysis.

Keywords

maserspolarizationmagnetic fields
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 8 , Symposium S287: Cosmic Masers - from OH to H0 , January 2012 , pp. 31 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2012

References

Amiri, N., Vlemmings, W. H. T., Kemball, A. J., & van Langevelde, H. J. 2012, A&A, 538, A136Google Scholar
Caswell, J. L., Kramer, B. H., & Reynolds, J. E. 2009, MNRAS, 398, 528CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caswell, J. L., Kramer, B. H., & Reynolds, J. E. 2011, MNRAS, 415, 3872CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cotton, W. D., Ragland, S., & Danchi, W. C. 2011, ApJ, 736, 96CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dinh-v-Trung 2009, MNRAS, 399, 1495CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dodson, R. 2008, A&A, 480, 767Google Scholar
Elitzur, M. 1996, ApJ, 457, 415CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Etoka, S. & Diamond, P. J. 2010, MNRAS, 406, 2218CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fiebig, D. & Güsten, R. 1989, A&A, 214, 333Google Scholar
Fish, V. L. & Reid, M. J. 2006, ApJS, 164, 99CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldreich, P., Keeley, D. A., & Kwan, J. Y. 1973, ApJ, 179, 111CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gómez, Y., Tafoya, D., Anglada, G., et al. 2009, ApJ, 695, 930CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gray, M. D. 2003, MNRAS, 343, L33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herpin, F., Baudry, A., Thum, C., Morris, D., & Wiesemeyer, H. 2006, A&A, 450, 667Google Scholar
Jen, C. K. 1951, Physical Review, 81, 197CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leal-Ferreira, M. L., Vlemmings, W. H. T., Diamond, P. J., et al. 2012, arXiv:1201.3839Google Scholar
Pérez-Sánchez, A. F., Vlemmings, W. H. T., & Chapman, J. M. 2011, MNRAS, 418, 1402CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robishaw, T., Quataert, E., & Heiles, C. 2008, ApJ, 680, 981CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarma, A. P., Troland, T. H., & Romney, J. D. 2001, ApJ, 554, L217CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarma, A. P. & Momjian, E. 2009, ApJ, 705, L176CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stack, P. D., & Ellingsen, S. P. 2011, PASA, 28, 338CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Surcis, G., Vlemmings, W. H. T., Dodson, R., & van Langevelde, H. J. 2009, A&A, 506, 757Google Scholar
Surcis, G., Vlemmings, W. H. T., Curiel, S., et al. 2011, A&A, 527, A48Google Scholar
Szymczak, M., Cohen, R. J., & Richards, A. M. S. 2001, A&A, 371, 1012Google Scholar
Szymczak, M. & Gérard, E. 2004, A&A, 423, 209Google Scholar
Torrelles, J. M., Patel, N. A., Anglada, G., et al. 2003, ApJ, 598, L115CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T., van Langevelde, H. J., & Diamond, P. J. 2005, A&A, 434, 1029Google Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T., Diamond, P. J., & Imai, H. 2006a, Nature, 440, 58CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T., Harvey-Smith, L., & Cohen, R. J. 2006c, MNRAS, 371, L26CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T. 2008, A&A, 484, 773Google Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T., Surcis, G., Torstensson, K. J. E., & van Langevelde, H. J. 2010, MNRAS, 404, 134Google Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T., Humphreys, E. M. L., & Franco-Hernández, R. 2011, ApJ, 728, 149CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlemmings, W. H. T., Torres, R. M., & Dodson, R. 2011, A&A, 529, A95Google Scholar
Watson, W. D. 1994, ApJ, 424, L37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolak, P., Szymczak, M., & Gérard, E. 2012, A&A, 537, A5Google Scholar