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Systematic variations of interstellar linear polarization and growth of dust grains

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Abstract

The observed relation between the interstellar linear polarization curve parameters K and λ max characterizing the width and the wavelength of the polarization maximum, respectively, is interpreted quantitatively. We have considered 57 stars located in four dark clouds with evidence of star formation: in Taurus, Chamaeleon, around the stars ρ Oph and R CrA. In our modeling we have used the spheroidal dust grain model applied previously to simultaneously interpret the interstellar extinction and polarization curves in a wide wavelength range. The observed trend K ≈ 1.7λ max is shown to be most likely related to the growth of dust grains due to coagulation rather than accretion. The relationship of the interstellar polarization curve parameters K and λ max to the mean dust grain size is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sobolev Astronomical Institute, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr. 28, St. Petersburg, 198504, Russia

    N. V. Voshchinnikov, I. S. Yakovlev & V. B. Il’in

  2. Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India

    H. K. Das

  3. Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pulkovskoe sh. 65, St. Petersburg, 196140, Russia

    V. B. Il’in

  4. St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, St. Petersburg, Russia

    V. B. Il’in

Authors
  1. N. V. Voshchinnikov
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  2. H. K. Das
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  3. I. S. Yakovlev
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  4. V. B. Il’in
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Correspondence to N. V. Voshchinnikov.

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Original Russian Text © N.V. Voshchinnikov, H.K. Das, I.S. Yakovlev, V.B. Il’in, 2013, published in Pis’ma v Astronomicheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2013, Vol. 39, No. 7, pp. 481–492.

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Voshchinnikov, N.V., Das, H.K., Yakovlev, I.S. et al. Systematic variations of interstellar linear polarization and growth of dust grains. Astron. Lett. 39, 421–431 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063773713070086

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063773713070086

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