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Title: Multiwavelength Stellar Polarimetry of the Filamentary Cloud IC5146. I. Dust Properties
We present optical and near-infrared stellar polarization observations toward the dark filamentary clouds associated with IC5146. The data allow us to investigate the dust properties (this paper) and the magnetic field structure (Paper II). A total of 2022 background stars were detected in the R c , I\prime , H, and/or K bands to {A}V≲ 25 mag. The ratio of the polarization percentage at different wavelengths provides an estimate of {λ }\max , the wavelength of the peak polarization, which is an indicator of the small-size cutoff of the grain size distribution. The grain size distribution seems to significantly change at {A}V˜ 3 mag, where both the average and dispersion of {P}{Rc}/{P}H decrease. In addition, we found {λ }\max ˜ 0.6{--}0.9 μm for {A}V> 2.5 mag, which is larger than the ˜0.55 μm in the general interstellar medium (ISM), suggesting that grain growth has already started in low-A V regions. Our data also reveal that polarization efficiency ({PE}\equiv {P}λ /{A}V) decreases with A V as a power law in the R c , I\prime , and K bands with indices of -0.71 ± 0.10, -1.23 ± 0.10, and -0.53 ± 0.09. However, H-band data show a power index change; the PE varies with A V steeply (index of -0.95 ± 0.30) when {A}V< 2.88+/- 0.67 mag, but softly (index of -0.25 ± 0.06) for greater A V values. The soft decay of PE in high-A V regions is consistent with the radiative alignment torque model, suggesting that our data trace the magnetic field to {A}V˜ 20 mag. Furthermore, the breakpoint found in the H band is similar to that for A V , where we found the {P}{Rc}/{P}H dispersion significantly decreased. Therefore, the flat PE-A V in high-A V regions implies that the power-index changes result from additional grain growth.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1412269
PAR ID:
10079132
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical journal
Volume:
849
Issue:
2
ISSN:
0004-637X
Page Range / eLocation ID:
157
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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