Linear polarization of T-Tauri stars

Abstract

Linear polarization observations over the wavelength range 0.44-2.2 microns are presented for six T Tauri type stars. All of the stars studied show substantial polarization in the infrared, while T Tau itself (and probably SU Aur) show a 90 deg change in position angle in the infrared. The data are discussed in terms of scattering from circumstellar dust grains with a component of large (approximately 1 micron) grains being required to fit the observed spectral dependence.