Abstract
We present line profiles of the four Stokes parameters of H2O masers at 22 GHz observed with the VLA in full polarimetric spectral line mode. With careful calibration, the instrumental effects such as linear leakage and the difference of antenna gain between RCP and LCP, can be minimized. Our measurements show a few percent linear polarization. Weak circular polarization was detected at a level of 0.1 percent of the peak intensity. A large uncertainty in the measurements of weak circular polarization is caused by telescope pointing errors. The observed polarization of H2O masers can be interpreted as either the Zeeman effect or linear birefringence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Deguchi, S. and Watson, W. D. 1986, Ap. J., 302, 750.
Deguchi, S. and Watson, W. D. 1985, Ap. J., 289, 621.
Fiebig, D. and Güsten, R. 1989, Astron. Astrophy., 214, 333.
Goldreich, P., Keeley, D. A., and Kwan, J. Y., 1973, Ap. J., 179, 111.
Heiles, C., Goodman, A. A., McKee, C. F., and Zweibel, E. G., in Fragmentation of Molecular Clouds and Star Formation, Eds. E. Falgaxone et al., (IAU Symp. 147, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, 1991), p 43.
Kylafis, N. D. and Shapiro, P. R. 1983, Ap. J., 272, L35.
Moran, J. M., in Galactic and Extragalactic Magnetic Fields, eds. R. Beck et al. (IAU Symp. 140, Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, 1990), p301.
Nedoluha, G. E. and Watson, W. D. 1992, Ap. J., 384, 185.
Nedoluha, G. E. and Watson, W. D. 1990a, Ap. J., 354, 660.
Nedoluha, G. E. and Watson, W. D. 1990b, Ap. J., 361, L53.
Zhao, J.-H., Goss, W. M. and Diamond, P. 1992, in preparation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag
About this paper
Cite this paper
Zhao, JH., Goss, W.M., Diamond, P. (1993). The Zeeman effect or linear birefringence? — VLA polarimetric spectral line observations of H2O masers. In: Clegg, A.W., Nedoluha, G.E. (eds) Astrophysical Masers. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 412. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-56343-1_238
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-56343-1_238
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-56343-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47536-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive