Skip to main content
Log in

Polarization observations of circumstellar OH masers

  • Published:
Astronomy Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Results of observations of circumstellar OH masers in lines with wavelengths near 18 cm are reported. The observations were carried out on the radio telescope of the Nan cay Radio Astronomy Observatory (France). In 2007–2009, 70 late-type stars were observed (including Mira and semi-regular variables). For 53 of these, emission was detected in at least one of three OH lines (1612, 1665, or 1667 MHz). Circular and linear polarization of the maser emission was measured, yielding all four Stokes parameters. Polarized emission features were detected in the OH line spectra of 41 stars. A summary of all the observations is given. The results obtained for T Lep, R LMi, and R Crt are discussed. Emission in the 1665 and 1667 MHz OH lines was detected in T Lep for the first time. Features probably due to Zeeman splitting were detected in the OH line profiles of all three stars. Estimates of the magnetic-field strengths in the maser sources were obtained (0.46–2.32 mG). Variability of the polarization characteristics of the maser emission of the stars on time intervals of several months was found.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P. J. Benson, I. R. Little-Marenin, T. C. Woods, et al., Astrophys. J. Suppl. Ser. 74, 911 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. A. H. Cook, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 140, 299 (1968).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. I. S. Shklovsky, Astron. Zh. 46, 3 (1969) [Sov. Astron. 13, 1 (1969)].

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. R. D. Davies, in Galactic Radio Astronomy, Ed. by F. J. Kerr and S. C. Simonson (Reidel, Dordrecht, Boston, 1974), p. 275.

    Google Scholar 

  5. V. V. Burdyuzha and D. A. Varshalovich, Astron. Zh. 52, 1178 (1975) [Sov. Astron. 19, 705 (1975)].

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. M. J. Claussen and J. D. Fix, Astrophys. J. 263, 153 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. N. Ukita and A. M. Le Squeren, Astron. Astrophys. 138, 343 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. P. N. Kholopov, N. N. Samus’, V. P. Goransky, et al., General Catalog of Variable Stars, vols. 1–3 (Nauka, Moscow, 1985–1987) [in Russian]; http://www.sai.msu.su/groups/cluster/gcvs/gcvs//iii/iii.dat.

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. Szymczak and A. M. Le Squeren, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 304, 415 (1999).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Szymczak, A. M. Le Squeren, P. Sivagnanam, et al., Astron. Astrophys. 297, 494 (1995).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. M. Szymczak, L. Błaszkiewicz, S. Etoka, and A. M. Le Squeren, Astron. Astrophys. 379, 884 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. Etoka, L. Błaszkiewicz, M. Szymczak, and A. M. Le Squeren, Astron. Astrophys. 378, 522 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. M. Szymczak, R. J. Cohen, and A. M. S. Richards, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 297, 1151 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. M. Szymczak, R. J. Cohen, and A. M. S. Richards, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 304, 877 (1999).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. M. Szymczak and E. Gérard, Astron. Astrophys. 423, 209 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Szymczak and E. Gérard, Astron. Astrophys. 494, 117 (2009).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. L. S. Celis, Astron. J. 89, 1343 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. P. Te Lintel Hekkert, J. L. Caswell, H. J. Habing, et al., Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 90, 327 (1991); ftp://cdsarc.ustrasbg.fr/pub/cats/J/A+AS/90/327.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. B. M. Lewis, P. David, and A.M. Le Squeren, Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 111, 237 (1995).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. J. R. D. Lépine, A. M. Le Squeren, and E. Scalise, Jr., Astrophys. J. 225, 869 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. P. F. Bowers and W. Hagen, Astrophys. J. 285, 637 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. S. Deguchi, J. Nakashima, and R. Balasubramanyam, Publ. Astron. Soc. Jpn. 53, 305 (2001).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. F. Herpin, A. Baudry, C. Thum, et al., Astron. Astrophys. 450, 667 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. M. Szymczak and A. M. Le Squeren, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 276, 635 (1995).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. W. J. Wilson and K.W. Riegel, Astron. Astrophys. 22, 473 (1973).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. R. Fillit, M. Gheudin, Nguyen-Quang-Rieu, et al., Astron. Astrophys. 21, 317 (1972).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. F. Colomer, M. J. Reid, K.M. Menten, and V. Bujarrabal, Astron. Astrophys. 355, 979 (2000).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. A. M. Le Squeren, A. Baudry, J. Brillet, and B. Darchy, Astron. Astrophys. 72, 39 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. D. F. Dickinson, B. E. Turner, P. R. Jewell, and P. J. Benson, Astron. J. 92, 627 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Original Russian Text © G.M. Rudnitskiĭ, M.I. Pashchenko, P. Colom, 2010, published in Astronomicheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2010, Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 444–461

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rudnitskiȝ, G.M., Pashchenko, M.I. & Colom, P. Polarization observations of circumstellar OH masers. Astron. Rep. 54, 400–417 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772910050045

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063772910050045

Keywords

Navigation