8-13 µm Spectropolarimetry of Star Formation Regions

Abstract

Amongst other things, mid-infrared spectropolarimetry provides information on the direction of the transverse component of a magnetic field. The polarisation is produced by dichroic emission and/or absorption by dust grains whose alignment is controlled by the ambient magnetic field. The observed position angle of the E vector allows the field direction to be determined. Here results are presented of 8-13 p,m spectropolarimetric observations of a number of star formation regions. Comparisons are made between the field direction observed and the Galactic field established by optical polarimetry of nearby field stars, and with the orientation of bipolar outflows and/or disks which are associated with some of these objects.