Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Astrogazer on 16/03/2021 21:04:13
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I’m looking for those stars that emit polarised light, or the light becomes polarised after leaving the star due to the space environment that the light passes through.
It’s appears that super high speed spinning stars emit polarised light at its fringes. Magnetic fields in space can also cause polarisation by lining up magnetisable space dust to cause a grating effect. I suspect magnetars and pulsars will cause the radiations to be polarised,
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Hi @Astrogazer
🙋
You seem to have already figured out everything for yourself...so what exactly are you seeking...like a complete list of all such Stars with their precise locations in the Sky?
🤔
P.S. - 🔭
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A couple of months ago I started a ‘professional astronomer experience course’. There is no qualification at the end but it is marked, so for my own pride I want to get a distinction. There’s about dozen questions to answer and a practical using SQA data on our own laptop using the same software that the professionals use. Q1 was all to do with the Earth’s self sustaining geodynamo, Q2 is about polarised EM waves in space.
I’m retired now, I don’t own a telescope as the things I find interesting I’d need a Keck in my back garden. This course is good for me as it uses SQA data, no self owned telescope needed and no super computer.
This question asks various things including what are the sources of polarised EM waves, name some sources, etc. Of course the write up has be substantiated with references to peer reviewed published papers.
After spending many hours searching references I’ve discovered that high speed spinning stars, eg Regulus, will emit polarised light from its equatorial horizons, but seen from Earth one side cancels out the other so to see the polarisation the light from one side of the star has to be blocked out by some cunning method. Also, magnetars, pulsars, planetary nebula (ferromagnetic particles in the space aligning up with the prevailing magnetic field between the source and we the observer so that includes dust in planetary nebula), our sun looking at small areas (sun spots especially), and I’d also suspect black holes too especially the polar regions where the spinning black hole would generate a magnetic cork screw and materials get ejected at relativistic speeds.
This topic is very hard to search for as I can’t search for ‘list the sources of polarised light that I don’t know about’. I don’t know when I’ve reached the end of the list.
I don’t have anyone to chat to about astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and quantum mechanics so I thought members here might be able to bounce some ideas back or to share their knowledge. While I’ve seen every TV documentary to do with the four disciplines I’ve just mentioned over the past 5 decades, and I listen to science podcasts I still need some input on some points I’m struggling with.
So my questions now are:-
1. Have I missed any other sources of polarised EM waves. (I’ve only just found another, the polar regions of Jupiter, probably due to the strong magnetic field and aerosols in the atmosphere).
2. What are the names of some astronomical sources of polarised light.
So I’d need to name some pulsars, magnetars, nebula (the Egg Nebula I already know about) but others would be good, black holes, etc. I’m useless when it comes to names. I think that the Crab pulsar is called Tau A, but are any others named? The other problem is that I’m having trouble linking definite detection of polarised light with these objects.
What do you think?
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You mention dust in regard to this. Brian May's thesis, which has been published in book form is about dust. See https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/handle/10044/1/1333
While this is not directly related to your post it is of interest generally.
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@jeffreyH
HeeY Jeffrey!
🙋
Where have You been...& More importantly How are You doin???
🤔
You seemed to have taken a really reeaally looong break?
😑
Hope All is Well?
🤞
I recall You were gonna dive in head first into the world of Quantum...
We were missing out a Quantum Specialist all this while on TNS!
Even @Bill S has seemingly disappeared.
☹️
Anyways, to the point, What Revelations have You brought Us back from the Quantum world Sir?
🍭
P.S. - @Astrogazer
I Apologize I'm using your OP to discuss a completely different personal subject, which in no way is concerned or related to your OP.
Sorry about it...& I shall make up for it ok...Trust Me!
😇
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Found a Lengthy article on Polarised Light.
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https://www.microscopyu.com/techniques/polarized-light/introduction-to-polarized-light#:~:text=Common%20examples%20of%20surfaces%20that,than%20those%20with%20different%20orientations.
I'm still searching for Astronomical sources besides Regulus Egg Crab & Jupiter...a lil more time required.
🙏
P.S. C'ya soon.
😊