Inversion of polarimetric data from eclipsing binaries

Close Binary Stars: Observations and Interpretation, 1980

Polarization caused by scattering of starlight on gaseous extrastellar material in close binary systems is reviewed. A simple physical derivation is given to illustrate how in principle, variations synchronous with the orbital period of the Stokes parameters of the linear polarization can yield the orbital inclination and other para meters. High resolution multichannel spectropolarimetry across the emission line profiles of binaries 1s discussed as a new technique in studying the physics and kinematics of gaseous streams and stellar winds. The methods have application to a range of binary objects including systems like Algol and Beta Lyrae, X-ray binaries, Of ind Wolf-Rayet binaries, VV Cephel stars and symbiotic stars. Some new observational" results are presented.

The Astronomical Journal, 2002

We present polarimetric observations of 14 pre-main-sequence (PMS) binaries located in the Taurus, Auriga, and Orion star forming regions. The majority of the average observed polarizations are below 0.5%, and none are above 0.9%. After removal of estimates of the interstellar polarization, about half the binaries have an intrinsic polarization above 0.5%, even though most of them do not present other evidences for the presence of circumstellar dust. Various tests reveal that 77% of the PMS binaries have or possibly have a variable polarization. LkCa 3, Par 1540, and Par 2494 present detectable periodic and phase-locked variations. The periodic polarimetric variations are noisier and of a lesser amplitude (∼0.1%) than for other types of binaries, such as hot stars. This could be due to stochastic events that produce deviations in the average polarization, a non-favorable geometry (circumbinary envelope), or the nature of the scatterers (dust grains are less efficient polarizers than electrons). Par 1540 is a Weak-line T Tauri Star, but nonetheless has enough dust in its environment to produce detectable levels of polarization and variations. A fourth interesting case is W 134, which displays rapid changes in polarization that could be due to eclipses. We compare the observations with some of our numerical simulations, and also show that an analysis of the periodic polarimetric variations with the Brown, McLean, & Emslie (BME) formalism to find the orbital inclination is for the moment premature: non-periodic events introduce stochastic noise that partially masks the periodic low-amplitude variations and prevents the BME formalism from finding a reasonable estimate of the orbital inclination.

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2016

Aims. The fact that the O-type close binary star system AO Cassiopeiae exhibits variable phase-locked linear polarization has been known since the mid-1970s. In this work, we re-observe the polarization arising from this system more than 50 yr later to better estimate the interstellar polarization and to independently derive the orbital parameters, such as inclination, i, orientation, Ω, and the direction of the rotation for the inner orbit from the phase-folded polarization curves of the Stokes q and u parameters. Methods. The Dipol-2 polarimeter was used to obtain linear polarization measurements of AO Cassiopeiae in the B, V, and R passbands with the T60 remotely controlled telescope at an unprecedented accuracy level of ∼0.003%. We have obtained the first proper quantification of the interstellar polarization in the direction heading towards AO Cas by observing the polarization of three neighboring field stars. We employed a Lomb-Scargle algorithm and detected a clear periodic signal for the orbital period of AO Cas. The standard analytical method based on a two-harmonics Fourier fit was used to obtain the inclination and orientation of the binary orbit. Results. Our polarimetric data exhibited an unambiguous periodic signal at 1.76 days, thus confirming the orbital period of the binary system of 3.52 days. Most of the observed polarization is of interstellar origin. The de-biased values of the orbital inclination are i = 63 • + 2 • /−3 • and orientation of Ω = 29 • (209 •) ± 8 •. The direction of the binary system rotation on the plane of the sky is clockwise.

The Astrophysical Journal, 2005

We investigate the linear polarization in the light of extrasolar planetary systems that may arise as a result of an occultation of the star by a transiting planet. Such an occultation breaks any spherical symmetry over the projected stellar disk and thus results in a non-vanishing linear polarization. This polarization will furthermore vary as the occultation progresses. We present both analytical and numerical results for the occultation of G-K-M-T dwarf stars by planets with sizes ranging from the one of Earth to two times the size of Jupiter. We find that the occultation polarization may result in an observable signal and provide additional means to characterize various parameters of the system. A particularly interesting result is that, for the later spectral types (i.e., smaller stellar radii), this polarization signature may be observable even for Earth-like planets. This suggests polarization as a possible tool to detect such planets. Departs from symmetry around mid-transit in the time dependence of the polarization signature may provide an estimate of the orbital eccentricity.

The Astronomical Journal, 2003

We present polarimetric observations of 7 pre-main-sequence (PMS) spectroscopic binaries located in the ρ Ophiuchus and Upper Scorpius star forming regions (SFRs). The average observed polarizations at 7660Å are between 0.5% and 3.5%. After estimates of the interstellar polarization are removed, all binaries have an intrinsic polarization above 0.4%, even though most of them do not present other evidences for circumstellar dust. Two binaries, NTTS 162814-2427 and NTTS 162819-2423S, present high levels of intrinsic polarization between 1.5% and 2.1%, in agreement with the fact that other observations (photometry, spectroscopy) indicate the presence of circumstellar dust. Tests reveal that all 7 PMS binaries have a statistically variable or possibly variable polarization. Combining these results with our previous sample of binaries located in the Taurus, Auriga and Orion SFRs, 68% of the binaries have an intrinsic polarization above 0.5%, and 90% of the binaries are polarimetrically variable or possibly variable. NTTS 160814-1857, NTTS 162814-2427, and NTTS 162819-2423S are clearly polarimetrically variable. The first two also exhibit phase-locked variations over ∼10 and ∼40 orbits respectively. Statistically, NTTS 160905-1859 is possibly variable, but it shows periodic variations not detected by the statistical tests; those variations are not phased-locked and only present for short intervals of time. The amplitudes of the variations reach a few tenths of a percent, greater than for the previously studied PMS binaries located in the Taurus, Orion, and Auriga SFRs. The high-eccentricity system NTTS 162814-2427 shows single-periodic variations, in agreement with our previous numerical simulations. We compare the observations with some of our numerical simulations, and also show that an analysis of the periodic polarimetric variations with the Brown, formalism to find the orbital inclination is for the moment premature: non-periodic events introduce stochastic noise that partially masks 1 Based in part on observations collected with the 2m Bernard-Lyot telescope (TBL) operated by INSU/CNRS and Pic-du-Midi Observatory (CNRS USR 5026). Financial support for the observations at Pic-du-Midi was provided by the Programme National de Physique Stellaire (PNPS) of CNRS/INSU, France.

Physica Scripta, 2014

The light received by source stars in microlensing events may be significantly polarized if both an efficient photon scattering mechanism is active in the source stellar atmosphere and a differential magnification is therein induced by the lensing system. The best candidate events for observing polarization are highly magnified events with source stars belonging to the class of cool, giant stars in which the stellar light is polarized by photon scattering on dust grains contained in their envelopes. The presence in the stellar atmosphere of an internal cavity devoid of dust produces polarization profiles with a two peaks structure. Hence, the time interval between them gives an important observable quantity directly related to the size of the internal cavity and to the model parameters of the lens system. We show that during a microlensing event the expected polarization variability can solve an ambiguity, that arises in some

Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2020

Context. We investigate the linear polarization produced by interstellar dust aligned by the magnetic field in the solar neighborhood (d < 50 pc). We also look for intrinsic effects from circumstellar processes, specifically in terms of polarization variability and wavelength dependence. Aims. We aim to detect and map dust clouds which give rise to statistically significant amounts of polarization of the starlight passing through the cloud, and to determine the interstellar magnetic field direction from the position angle of the observed polarization. Methods. High-precision broad-band (BV R) polarization observations are made of 361 stars in spectral classes F to G, with detection sensitivity at the level of or better than 10−5 (0.001%). The sample consists of 125 stars in the magnitude range 6–9 observed at the 2.2 m UH88 telescope on Mauna Kea, 205 stars in the magnitude range 3–6 observed at the Japanese (Tohoku) T60 telescope on Haleakala, and 31 stars in the magnitude range...

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2012

Gravitational microlensing, when finite size source effects are relevant, provides an unique tool for the study of source star stellar atmospheres through an enhancement of a characteristic polarization signal. This is due to the differential magnification induced during the crossing of the source star. In this paper we consider a specific set of reported highly magnified, both single and binary exoplanetary systems, microlensing events towards the Galactic bulge and evaluate the expected polarization signal. To this purpose, we consider several polarization models which apply to different types of source stars: hot, late type main sequence and cool giants. As a result we compute the polarization signal P , which goes up to P=0.04 percent for late type stars and up to a few percent for cool giants, depending on the underlying physical polarization processes and atmosphere model parameters. Given a I band magnitude at maximum magnification of about 12, and a typical duration of the polarization signal up to 1 day, we conclude that the currently available technology, in particular the polarimeter in FORS2 on the VLT, potentially may allow the detection of such signals. This observational programme may take advantage of the currently available surveys plus follow up strategy already routinely used for microlensing monitoring towards the Galactic bulge (aimed at the detection of exoplanets). In particular, this allows one to predict in advance for which events and at which exact time the observing resources may be focused to make intensive polarization measurements.

2014

There are different methods for finding exoplanets such as radial spectral shifts, astrometrical measurements, transits, timing etc. Gravitational microlensing (including pixel-lensing) is among the most promising techniques with the potentiality of detecting Earth-like planets at distances about a few astronomical units from their host star or near the so-called snow line with a temperature in the range 0-100°C on a solid surface of an exoplanet. We emphasize the importance of polarization measurements which can help to resolve degeneracies in theoretical models. In particular, the polarization angle could give additional information about the relative position of the lens with respect to the source.