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The linear polarization of nearby bright stars measured at the parts per million level
(2010)
We report observations of the linear polarization of a sample of 49 nearby bright stars measured to sensitivities of between ∼1 and ∼ 4 × 10−6 . The majority of stars in the sample show measurable polarization, but most ...
Extended High Circular Polarization in the Orion Massive Star Forming Region: Implications for the Origin of Homochirality in the Solar System
(2010)
We present a wide-field (∼6′ × 6′) and deep near-infrared (K s band: 2.14 μm) circular polarization image in the Orion nebula, where massive stars and many low-mass stars are forming. Our results reveal that a high circular ...
Near-infrared circular polarimetry and correlation diagrams in the Orion Becklin-Neugebauer/Kleinman-low region: contribution of dichroic extinction
(2009)
We present a deep circular polarization (CP) image of the Orion Becklin-Neugebauer (BN)/Kleinman-Low (KL)nebula in the K-s band and correlations of CP, linear polarization (LP) and H-K-s color representing extinction. The ...
Planetpol polarimetry of the exoplanet systems 55 Cnc and tau Boo
(2009)
We present very sensitive polarimetry of 55 Cnc and τ Boo in an attempt to detect the partially polarized reflected light from the planets orbiting these two stars. 55 Cnc is orbited by a hot Neptune planet (55 Cnc e) at ...
Low Polarization Standards
(Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2007)
There is renewed interest in high sensitivity polarimetry as a means of observing the polarization signal of extra-solar planets. We describe the measurement of low polarized standards at fractional polarizations of parts ...
UV Circular Polarisation in Star Formation Regions : The Origin of Homochirality?
(2005-02)
Ultraviolet circularly polarised light has been suggested as the initial cause of the homochirality of organic molecules in terrestrial organisms, via enantiomeric selection of prebiotic molecules by asymmetric photolysis. ...