Discovery of a magnetic compact star in the AM Herculis / 3U 1809+50 system. (original) (raw)

NASA/ADS

Abstract

Linear and circular polarization observed in the V and I spectral bands reveal the presence of a compact star with a magnetic field of the order of 200 million gauss. Large variations of both polarization states, with a period of 0.128918 days, appear to be caused by rotation of the compact star. Unpolarized radiation observed in the U band suggest that a hot source, companion to the compact star, is unaffected by the magnetic field.

Publication:

The Astrophysical Journal

Pub Date:

March 1977

DOI:

10.1086/182390

Bibcode:

1977ApJ...212L.125T

Keywords:

• Dwarf Stars;
• Magnetic Stars;
• Polarization Characteristics;
• Stellar Magnetic Fields;
• X Ray Sources;
• Circular Polarization;
• Cyclotron Radiation;
• Novae;
• Stellar Rotation;
• Stellar Spectrophotometry;
• Astrophysics