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An extension of the vector algebra for irreducible spherical tensor operators (ITOs) is proposed, which involves coupling two ITOs into a third one ( V (k v) = T (k t) ⊗ U (k u) ∗ ), with the additional condition that one of the operators is a complex conjugate and therefore is not an ITO. The correctness condition is considered for this extension. The new coupling rule treats the density matrices ρ (K l) and all tensors related to light polarization ( J (K r) or T (K) ) equally. This approach has been applied to rewrite the fundamental statistical equilibrium equations and radiation transfer equations relevant to astrophysical polarimetry. The revised equations are more concise and eliminate the need for the nj symbols. Instead, they utilize vector and scalar products of ITOs. All rate coefficients in the equations consist of two independent factors, the reduced matrix element from dipole moments and the product (vector or scalar) of the tensors ρ (K l) and J (K r) (or T (K) ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) is the prime payload on board Aditya-L1 mission. One of the unique capabilities of VELC is the coronal magnetic field measurements from space. To achieve this, VELC performs dual beam spectropolarimetric observations in coronal emission line centered at 10747 Å. Spectropolarimetric channel of VELC consists of different polarimetric components such as quarter waveplate (QWP), polarising beam displacer (PBD) and half waveplate (HWP). Calibration of individual components is essential to ensure that they meet the performance requirements of the payload. This work discusses the details of the calibration tests carried out to evaluate the performance of different polarimetric components of VELC and the results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kodaikanal Tower Tunnel Telescope (KTT) is a three-mirror Coelostat-based Solar telescope. An inherent variable image drift is present in the KTT which is detrimental to observations particularly to slit-based spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations. An image Auto Guider system has recently been installed at KTT to arrest the image drift based on sensing the image limb. The image's limb position on the image plane is sensed using a two-segment photodiode sensor in North–South and East–West directions. Feedback is given to the second mirror of Coelostat, which tilts, causing the image to move on the image plane. This paper discusses instrumental setup, calibration, and testing of the Auto Guider system at KTT. The Auto Guider system is robust and capable of arresting image drifts up to 55 arcsec min − 1 , which is much higher than the typically observed drifts (maximum 7 arcsec min − 1 ) at KTT with a precision of ± ∼ 0. 9 arcsec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Integral Field Unit (IFU) based on image slicers has been added to the GREGOR Infrared Spectrograph (GRIS). This upgrade to the instrument makes possible 2D spectropolarimetry in the near-infrared by simultaneously recording the full Stokes profiles of spectral lines (in a given spectral interval) at all the points in the field of view (FOV). It provides high-cadence spectropolarimetric observations at the instrument's high spatial resolution and high polarization sensitivity at the GREGOR solar telescope. The IFU is ideal for observing the polarized spectrum of fast-evolving solar features at high spatial and spectral resolutions. The high observing cadence opens the possibility of time-series observations. The analysis of observations to this level of accuracy is essential for understanding the complex dynamics and interactions of solar plasma and magnetic fields. The image slicer of the IFU has eight slices of width 100 μ m, covering a total FOV of   6 ′ ′ × 3 ′ ′ . It was designed and built within the framework of the European projects SOLARNET and GREST, as a prototype for future instruments of the European Solar Telescope (EST) and was integrated into GRIS. After two commissioning campaigns in 2017 and 2018, the IFU was finally installed at the end of September 2018 and offered to all observers who use the telescope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have measured the photodissociation spectrum of CH+ and CD+ molecular ions, stored as fast (MeV) ion beams in the heavy-ion storage ring TSR. Several b 3Σ--a 3Π bands were observed as strong resonances because a large fraction of the ions in the metastable a 3Π(v=0) state were pumped to b 3Σ- levels and predissociated via the c 3Σ+ state into C+ and H(D) fragments. From a rotational analysis of the 2-0, 3-0, and 4-0 bands in CH+ and the 3-0 and 4-0 bands in CD+, we derive spectroscopic constants for these levels and also revise a previous analysis of the 0-0 and 1-0 bands in CH+. Combining all data delivers new, significantly adjusted equilibrium constants for the b 3Σ- and a 3Π electronic states. Apart from the spectroscopic analysis, we estimate the predissociation rates of the upper b 3Σ- vibrational levels in CH+ and compare them to a model. For the initial rovibrational distribution of the stored metastable CH+ molecules, the data indicate a faster vibrational cooling than derived before, and rotational cooling at a rate similar to the X 1Σ+ ground state. New aspects of the spin-forbidden a 3Π-X 1Σ+ radiative decay are discussed. Finally, we predict b 3Σ--a 3Π absorption and a 3Π-X 1Σ+ emission lines through which CH+ in the metastable a 3Π(v=0) state might be detectable in astrophysical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various surveys focusing on the magnetic properties of intermediate-mass main-sequence (MS) stars have been previously carried out. One particularly puzzling outcome of these surveys is the identification of a dichotomy between the strong (⁠|${\gtrsim }100\, {\rm G}$|⁠), organized fields hosted by magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars and the ultraweak (⁠|${\lesssim }1\, {\rm G}$|⁠) fields associated with a small number of non-mCP MS stars. Despite attempts to detect intermediate strength fields (i.e. those with strengths ≳10 and |${\lesssim }100\, {\rm G}$|⁠), remarkably few examples have been found. Whether this so-called magnetic desert, separating the stars hosting ultraweak fields from the mCP stars truly exists has not been definitively answered. In 2007, a volume-limited spectropolarimetric survey of mCP stars using the MuSiCoS spectropolarimeter was initiated to test the existence of the magnetic desert by attempting to reduce the biases inherent in previous surveys. Since then, we have obtained a large number of ESPaDOnS and NARVAL Stokes V measurements allowing this survey to be completed. Here, we present the results of our homogeneous analysis of the rotational periods (inferred from photometric and magnetic variabilities) and magnetic properties (dipole field strengths and obliquity angles) of the 52 confirmed mCP stars located within a heliocentric distance of |$100\, {\rm pc}$|⁠. No mCP stars exhibiting field strengths |${\lesssim }300\, {\rm G}$| are found within the sample, which is consistent with the notion that the magnetic desert is a real property and not the result of an observational bias. Additionally, we find evidence of magnetic field decay, which confirms the results of previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have observed the active star ξ Boo A (HD 131156A) with high precision broadband linear polarimetry contemporaneously with circular spectropolarimetry. We find both signals are modulated by the 6.43 d rotation period of ξ Boo A. The signals from the two techniques are 0.25 out of phase, consistent with the broadband linear polarization resulting from differential saturation of spectral lines in the global transverse magnetic field. The mean magnitude of the linear polarization signal is ∼4 ppm G–1 but its structure is complex and the amplitude of the variations suppressed relative to the longitudinal magnetic field. The result has important implications for current attempts to detect polarized light from hot Jupiters orbiting active stars in the combined light of the star and planet. In such work stellar activity will manifest as noise, both on the time-scale of stellar rotation, and on longer time-scales – where changes in activity level will manifest as a baseline shift between observing runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present the spectropolarimetric observations of a sample of 30 Type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and an analysis of the observed polarization in these AGNs. The observations have been performed with the 6 m telescope of SAO RAS using the modified SCORPIO-2 spectropolarimeter. We measured the Stokes parameters for the continuum and the broad H α line and obtained the values of polarization degree and the angle of polarization. We found that equatorial scattering is dominant polarization mechanism in the sample that allows us to use the observed polarization in the broad lines for determination of the central black hole (BH) masses and characteristics (the inclination and emissivity) of the broad-line region (BLR). We demonstrated that the recently proposed method of Afanasiev & Popović (2015) for BH mass measurement gives accurate BH masses that are in a good correlation with the stellar velocity dispersion, and consequently, the masses determined by the polarization method can be used with calibration purposes. Additionally we found that the BLR in the sample of 30 AGNs has an averaged inclination of 35°±9° (mostly between 20° and 40°) and emissivity α ∼ −0.57 that is more flat than one expected for the classical accretion disc α ∼ −0.75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HD 21190 is a known δ Scuti star showing Ap star characteristics and a variability period of 3.6 h discovered by the Hipparcos mission. Using Gaia DR1 data for an astrometric analysis, it was recently suggested that HD 21190 forms a physical binary system with the companion CPD −83° 64B. An atmospheric chemical analysis based on High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) observations revealed the presence of overabundances of heavy and rare-earth elements, which are typically observed in chemically peculiar stars with large-scale organized magnetic fields. Previous observations of HD 21190 indicated a magnetic field strength of a few hundred Gauss. The presence of a magnetic field in CPD −83° 64B remained unexplored. In this work, we reanalyse this system using Gaia DR2 data and present our search for the magnetic field in both stars based on multi-epoch HARPSpol high-resolution and FORS 2 low-resolution spectropolarimetric observations. The Gaia DR2 results clearly indicate that the two stars are not physically associated. A magnetic field detection at a significance level of more than 6σ (〈 B z〉all= 230 ± 38 G) was achieved for the δ Scuti variable HD 21190 in FORS 2 observations using the entire spectrum for the measurements. The magnetic field appears to be stronger in CPD −83° 64B. The highest value for the longitudinal magnetic field in CPD −83° 64B, 〈 B z〉all= 509 ± 104 G, is measured at a significance level of 4.9σ. Furthermore, the high-resolution HARPSpol observations of this component indicate the presence of pulsational variability on a time scale of tens of minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The Wilson depression is the difference in geometric height of unit continuum optical depth between the sunspot umbra and the quiet Sun. Measuring the Wilson depression is important for understanding the geometry of sunspots. Current methods suffer from systematic effects or need to make assumptions on the geometry of the magnetic field. This leads to large systematic uncertainties of the derived Wilson depressions. Aims. We aim to develop a robust method for deriving the Wilson depression that only requires the information about the magnetic field that is accessible from spectropolarimetry, and that does not rely on assumptions on the geometry of sunspots or on their magnetic field. Methods. Our method is based on minimizing the divergence of the magnetic field vector derived from spectropolarimetric observations. We have focused on large spatial scales only in order to reduce the number of free parameters. Results. We tested the performance of our method using synthetic Hinode data derived from two sunspot simulations. We find that the maximum and the umbral averaged Wilson depression for both spots determined with our method typically lies within 100 km of the true value obtained from the simulations. In addition, we applied the method to Hinode observations of a sunspot. The derived Wilson depression (∼600 km) is consistent with results typically obtained from the Wilson effect. We also find that the Wilson depression obtained from using horizontal force balance gives 110–180 km smaller Wilson depressions than both, what we find and what we deduce directly from the simulations. This suggests that the magnetic pressure and the magnetic curvature force contribute to the Wilson depression by a similar amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present an analysis of the first high-resolution full Stokes vector spectropolarimetric observations of the active M dwarf AD Leo. Based on observations collected in 2016 with the ESPaDOnS instrument at CFHT, we derived the least-squares deconvolved Stokes profiles and detected linear polarization signatures in spectral lines. At the same time, we discovered that the circular polarisation profiles corresponding to our data set are significantly weaker compared to all archival spectra of AD Leo, which exhibited approximately constant profiles over the time-scale of at least 6 yr until 2012. Magnetic maps obtained using Zeeman Doppler imaging confirm the sudden change in the surface magnetic field. Although the total magnetic field energy decreased by about 20 per cent between 2012 and 2016, the field component responsible for the observed circular polarization signatures corresponds to a stronger field occupying a smaller fraction of the stellar surface in the more recent map. These results represent the first evidence that active M dwarfs with dipole-dominated axisymmetric field topologies can undergo a long-term global magnetic variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen sequence Wolf-Rayet stars (WO) are thought to be the final evolution phase of some high-mass stars, as such they may be the progenitors of Type Ic SNe as well as potential progenitors of broad-lined Ic and long gamma-ray bursts. We present the first spectropolarimetric observations of the Galactic WO stars WR93b and WR102 obtained with FORS1 on the Very Large Telescope. We find no sign of a line effect, which could be expected if these stars were rapid rotators. We also place constraints on the amplitude of a potentially undetected line effect. This allows us to derive upper limits on the possible intrinsic continuum polarization and find P cont < 0.077 per cent and P cont < 0.057 per cent for WR93b and WR102, respectively. Furthermore, we derive upper limits on the rotation of our WO stars by considering our results in the context of the wind compression effect. We estimate that for an edge-on case the rotational velocity of WR93b is v rot < 324 km s−1 while for WR102 v rot < 234 km s−1. These correspond to values of v rot/ v crit < 19 per cent and <10 per cent, respectively, and values of log(j) < 18.0 cm2 s−1 for WR93b and <17.6 cm2 s−1 for WR102. The upper limits found on v rot/ v crit and log(j) for our WO stars are therefore similar to the estimates calculated for Galactic Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars that do show a line effect. Therefore, although the presence of a line effect in a single WR star is indicative of fast rotation, the absence of a line effect does not rule out significant rotation, even when considering the edge-on scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectropolarimetry is a powerful technique that has provided critical support for the geometric unification model of local active galactic nuclei. In this paper, we present optical [rest-frame ultraviolet (UV)] Keck spectropolarimetry of five luminous obscured (type 2) and extremely red quasars (ERQs) at $$z$$ ≃ 2.5. Three objects reach polarization fractions of ≳10 per cent in the continuum. We prefer dust scattering as the dominant scattering and polarization mechanism in our targets, though electron scattering cannot be completely excluded. Emission lines are polarized at a lower level than the continuum. This suggests that the emission-line region exists on similar spatial scales as the scattering region. In three objects, we detect an intriguing 90°swing in the polarization position angle as a function of line-of-sight velocity in the emission lines of Ly α, C  iv, and N  v. We interpret this phenomenon in the framework of a geometric model with an equatorial scattering region in which the scattering material is outflowing at several thousand km s−1. Our model explains several salient features of observations by scattering on scales of a few tens of pc. Our observations provide a tantalizing view of the inner region geometry and kinematics of high-redshift obscured and ERQs. Our data and modelling lend strong support for toroidal obscuration and powerful outflows on the scales of the UV emission line region, in addition to the larger scale outflows inferred previously from the optical emission line kinematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present light curves for 3C 279 over a time period of 6 yr; from 2008 to 2014. Our multiwavelength data comprise 1 mm to gamma-rays, with additional optical polarimetry. Based on the behaviour of the gamma-ray light curve with respect to other bands, we identified three different activity periods. One of the activity periods shows anomalous behaviour with no gamma-ray counterpart associated with optical and near-infrared (NIR) flares. Another anomalous activity period shows a flare in gamma-rays, 1 mm and polarization degree, however, it does not have counterparts in the ultraviolet (UV) continuum, optical, and NIR bands. We find a significant overall correlation of the UV continuum emission, the optical, and NIR bands. This correlation suggests that the NIR to UV continuum is co-spatial. We also find a correlation between the UV continuum and the 1 mm data, which implies that the dominant process in producing the UV continuum is synchrotron emission. The gamma-ray spectral index shows statistically significant variability and an anticorrelation with the gamma-ray luminosity. We demonstrate that the dominant gamma-ray emission mechanism in 3C 279 changes over time. Alternatively, the location of the gamma-ray emission zone itself may change depending on the activity state of the central engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Inversion codes are computer programs that fit a model atmosphere to the observed Stokes spectra, thus retrieving the relevant atmospheric parameters. The rising interest in the solar chromosphere, where spectral lines are formed by scattering, requires developing, testing, and comparing new non-local thermal equilibrium (NLTE) inversion codes. Aims. We present a new NLTE inversion code that is based on the analytical computation of the response functions. We named the code SNAPI, which is short for spectropolarimetic NLTE analytically powered inversion. Methods. SNAPI inverts full Stokes spectrum in order to obtain a depth-dependent stratification of the temperature, velocity, and the magnetic field vector. It is based on the so-called node approach, where atmospheric parameters are free to vary in several fixed points in the atmosphere, and are assumed to behave as splines in between. We describe the inversion approach in general and the specific choices we have made in the implementation. Results. We test the performance on one academic problem and on two interesting NLTE examples, the Ca II 8542 and Na I D spectral lines. The code is found to have excellent convergence properties and outperforms a finite-difference based code in this specific implementation by at least a factor of three. We invert synthetic observations of Na lines from a small part of a simulated solar atmosphere and conclude that the Na lines reliably retrieve the magnetic field and velocity in the range −3 <  logτ <  −0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectropolarimetric surveys reveal that 8–10 per cent of OBA stars harbor large-scale magnetic fields, but thus far no such fields have been detected in any classical Be stars. Motivated by this, we present here magnetohydrodynamical simulations for how a pre-existing Keplerian disc – like that inferred to form from decretion of material from rapidly rotating Be stars – can be disrupted by a rotation-aligned stellar dipole field. For characteristic stellar and disc parameters of a near critically rotating B2e star, we find that a polar surface field strength of just 10 G can significantly disrupt the disc, while a field of 100 G, near the observational upper limit inferred for most Be stars, completely destroys the disc over just a few days. Our parameter study shows that the efficacy of this magnetic disruption of a disc scales with the characteristic plasma beta (defined as the ratio between thermal and magnetic pressure) in the disc, but is surprisingly insensitive to other variations, e.g. in stellar rotation speed, or the mass-loss rate of the star’s radiatively driven wind. The disc disruption seen here for even a modest field strength suggests that the presumed formation of such Be discs by decretion of material from the star would likely be strongly inhibited by such fields; this provides an attractive explanation for why no large-scale fields are detected from such Be stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly reddened type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with low total-to-selective visual extinction ratio values, RV, also show peculiar linear polarization wavelength dependencies with peak polarizations at short wavelengths (λmax ≲ 0.4 μm). It is not clear why sightlines to SNe Ia display such different continuum polarization profiles from interstellar sightlines in the Milky Way with similar RV values. We investigate polarization profiles of a sample of Galactic stars with low RV values, along anomalous extinction sightlines, with the aim to find similarities to the polarization profiles that we observe in SN Ia sightlines. We undertook spectropolarimetry of 14 stars, used archival data for 3 additional stars, and ran dust extinction and polarization simulations (by adopting the picket-fence alignment model) to infer a simple dust model (size distribution, alignment) that can reproduce the observed extinction and polarization curves. Our sample of Galactic stars with low RV values and anomalous extinction sightlines displays normal polarization profiles with an average λmax ~ 0.53 μm, and is consistent within 3σ to a larger coherent sample of Galactic stars from the literature. Despite the low RV values of dust toward the stars in our sample, the polarization curves do not show any similarity to the continuum polarization curves observed toward SNe Ia with low RV values. There is a correlation between the best-fit Serkowski parameters K and λmax, but we did not find any significant correlation between RV and λmax. Our simulations show that the K–λmax relationship is an intrinsic property of polarization. Furthermore, we have shown that in order to reproduce polarization curves with normal λmax and low RV values, a population of large (a ≥ 0.1μm) interstellar silicate grains must be contained in the dust composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Betelgeuse is an M-type supergiant that presents a circularly polarized (Stokes V) signal in its line profiles, interpreted in terms of a surface magnetic field. Aims. The weak circular polarization signal has been monitored over 7.5 years in order to follow its evolution on different timescales, and eventually to determine its physical origin. Linear polarization measurements have also been obtained regularly in the last few years. Methods. We used both the ESPaDOnS and Narval spectropolarimeters to obtain high signal-to-noise ratio spectra, which were processed by means of the least-squares deconvolution method. In order to ensure the reality of the very weak circular polarization, special care has been taken to limit instrumental effects. In addition, several tests were performed on the Stokes V signal to establish its stellar and Zeeman origin. Results. We confirm the magnetic nature of the circular polarization, pointing to a surface magnetic field of the order of 1 G. The Stokes V profiles present variations over different timescales, the most prominent one being close to the long secondary period (LSP; around 2000 d for Betelgeuse) often invoked in red evolved stars. This long period is also dominant for all the other Stokes parameters. The circular polarization is tentatively modeled by means of magnetic field concentrations mimicking spots, showing in particular that the velocity associated with each “spot” also follows the long timescale, and that this signal is nearly always slightly redshifted. Conclusions. From the coupled variations of both linear and circular polarization signatures in amplitude, velocity and timescale, we favour giant convection cells as the main engine at the origin of polarization signatures and variations in all the Stokes parameters. This strengthens support for the hypothesis that large convective cells are at the origin of the LSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new active imaging architecture that enables rapid spectropolarimetric imaging in a compact system. The transmitter laser produces a synchronous cascade of closely spaced wavelengths, each of which is modulated with a unique amplitude pattern. Temporal multiplexing of the optical return signals is used to reduce system cost, size, weight, and power. This architecture enables a single laser and a single detector for all wavelengths and polarization states. This in turn enables pixel-by-pixel scene characterization, which could be used for target identification in future work. The basic hardware and software architecture will be presented in addition to technologies that are being investigated to develop this system architecture. We will introduce analytical expressions for the temporally multiplexed transmitted and detected signals based on the proposed hardware configuration. We then derive optimal and computationally efficient algorithms for the estimation of the overall range per pixel and the reflectivity per wavelength per pixel, as well as the Cramer–Rao lower bound on estimator variance. The bound and simulated performance yield guidelines for the system parameters required to achieve a desired level of fidelity of the spectral and polarimetric reflectivity. The proposed system is validated with laboratory data and explored via simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ξ 1 CMa is a known magnetic star showing rotationally modulated magnetic variability with a period of 2.17937 d. However, recent work based on high-resolution spectropolarimetry suggests that the rotation period is longer than 30 years. We compare our new spectropolarimetric measurements with FORS 2 at the VLT acquired on three consecutive nights in 2017 to previous FORS 1/2 measurements of the longitudinal magnetic field strength. The new longitudinal magnetic field values are in the range from 115 to 240 G and do not support the presence of a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The thermodynamic parameters and parameters of the photospheric magnetic field in the region of chromospheric dual flows in the vicinity of a small pore in the active region NOAA 11024 are presented. The dual chromospheric flows that appeared in the region of abnormal Stokes V profiles of the photospheric lines were associated with the emergence of a new small-scale magnetic flux of positive polarity. Semiempirical photospheric models were obtained by inversion using the SIR program (Stokes Inversion based on Response functions) [42]. Each model contains two components: two thin magnetic flux tubes of different polarity. The magnetic flux has a negative polarity in the first component and positive in the second. The Stokes profiles of the photospheric lines Fe I λ 630.15, 630.25, and 630.35 nm and Ti I λ 630.38 nm from the spectropolarimetric observations with the French-Italian telescope THEMIS (Tenerife, Spain) were used for modeling. The altitudinal dependences of the temperature, line of sight velocity, inclination angle of the magnetic field vector, and azimuth angle in the tubes, as well as the values of the magnetic field strength and macroturbulent velocity, are obtained. The time variations in all parameters of the photosphere are revealed. The new magnetic flux emerged in the region of mixed polarities and was accompanied by the heating of the photosphere and chromosphere. The inferred flux tube models show the temperature enhancement by 400 K in the upper photospheric layers relative to the quiet-Sun model temperature. They indicate a complex, inhomogeneous small-scale structure of the magnetic field and the velocity field. The magnetic field strength in the tubes varies from 0.03 to 0.13 T during the period under consideration. The inclination angles of the magnetic field vector and the azimuth angles strongly differ in magnetic flux tubes and vary in time. The line-of-sight velocity does not exceed 2 km/s. The downflows in the lower layers of the photosphere and the upflows in the upper layers dominate in the first component of the models. In the second component of the model, the material in the upper photosphere is lifted. The macroturbulent velocity in most cases exceeds its value for the unperturbed photosphere. The velocity is greater in the second component of the models. The emergence of the new magnetic flux could lead to the magnetic reconnection and occurrence of a microflare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its discovery more than half a century ago Przybylski's star (HD 101065) continues to excite the astronomical community by the unusual nature of its spectrum, exhibiting exotic element abundances. This star was also the first magnetic chemically peculiar A-type star for which the presence of rapid oscillations was established. Our analysis of newly acquired and historic longitudinal magnetic field measurements indicates that Przybylski's star is also unusual with respect to its extremely slow rotation. Adopting a dipolar structure for the magnetic field and using a sine wave fit to all reported longitudinal magnetic field values over the last 43 yr, we find a probable rotation period Prot ≈ 188 yr, which however has to be considered tentative as it does not represent a unique solution and has to be verified by future observations. Additionally, based on our own spectropolarimetric material obtained with HARPSpol, we discuss the impact of the anomalous structure of its atmosphere, in particular of the non-uniform horizontal and vertical distributions of chemical elements on the magnetic field measurements and the pulsational variability. Anomalies related to the vertical abundance stratification of Pr and Nd are for the first time used to establish the presence of a radial magnetic field gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the excitation of unstable magnetosonic waves in the radiative envelopes of intermediate- and high-mass stars with a magnetic field of ∼kG strength. Wind clumping close to the star and microturbulence can often be accounted for when including small-scale, subphotospheric density or velocity perturbations. Compressional waves – with wavelengths comparable to or shorter than the gas pressure scale height – can be destabilized by the radiative flux in optically thick media when a magnetic field is present, in a process called the radiation-driven magneto-acoustic instability (RMI). The instability does not require radiation or magnetic pressure to dominate over gas pressure, and acts independently of subsurface convection zones. Here we evaluate the conditions for the RMI to operate on a grid of stellar models covering a mass range 3–40 M⊙ at solar metallicity. For a uniform 1 kG magnetic field, fast magnetosonic modes are unstable down to an optical depth of a few tens, while unstable slow modes extend beyond the depth of the iron convection zone. The qualitative behaviour is robust to magnetic field strength variations by a factor of a few. When combining our findings with previous results for the saturation amplitude of the RMI, we predict velocity fluctuations in the range ∼0.1–10 km s−1. These amplitudes are a monotonically increasing function of the ratio of radiation to gas pressure, or alternatively, of the zero-age main sequence mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2013fs and SN 2013fr in the first ~100 d postexplosion. Both objects showed transient, relatively narrow Hα emission lines characteristic of SNe IIn, but later resembled normal SNe II-P or SNe II-L, indicative of fleeting interaction with circumstellar material (CSM). SN 2013fs was discovered within 8 h of explosion; one of the earliest SNe discovered thus far. Its light curve exhibits a plateau, with spectra revealing strong CSM interaction at early times. It is a less luminous version of the transitional SN IIn PTF11iqb, further demonstrating a continuum of CSM interaction intensity between SNe II-P and SNe IIn. It requires dense CSM within 6.5 x 1014 cm of the progenitor, from a phase of advanced pre-SN mass loss beginning shortly before explosion. Spectropolarimetry of SN 2013fs shows little continuum polarization (~0.5 per cent, consistent with zero), but noticeable line polarization during the plateau phase. SN 2013fr morphed from an SN IIn at early times to an SN II-L. After the first epoch, its narrow lines probably arose from host-galaxy emission, but the bright, narrow Hα emission at early times may be intrinsic to the SN. As for SN 2013fs, this would point to a short-lived phase of strong CSM interaction if proven to be intrinsic, suggesting a continuum between SNe IIn and SNe II-L. It is a low-velocity SN II-L like SN 2009kr, but more luminous. SN 2013fr also developed an infrared excess at later times, due to warm CSM dust that requires a more sustained phase of strong pre-SN mass loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work is to study the cool, active binary star σ2 CrB, focussing on its magnetic field. We used Stokes IV data from the twin spectropolarimeters Narval at the TBL and ESPaDOnS at the CFHT. The least-squares deconvolution multi-line technique was used to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the data. We then applied a new binary Zeeman-Doppler imaging code to reconstruct simultaneously the magnetic topology and brightness distribution of both components. This analysis was carried out for two observational epochs in 2014 and 2017. A previously unconfirmed magnetic field of the primary star has been securely detected. The polarisation signatures of the secondary appear to have a systematically larger amplitude than that of the primary. This corresponds to a stronger magnetic field, for which the magnetic energy of the secondary exceeds that of the primary by a factor of 3.3-5.7. While the magnetic energy is similar for the secondary star in the two epochs, the magnetic energy is about twice as high in 2017 for the primary. The magnetic field topology of the two stars in the earlier epoch (2014) is very different. In the earlier epoch, the magnetic field at the visible pole appears to be of opposite polarity for the primary and secondary, suggesting linked magnetospheres. The apparent rotational periods of both σ2 CrB components are longer than the orbital period, which we interpret as an evidence of a solar-like differential rotation. Despite their nearly identical fundamental parameters, the components of σ2 CrB system exhibit different magnetic field properties. This indicates that the magnetic dynamo process is a very sensitive function of stellar parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present broadband polarimetric observations of a sample of high-Faraday-rotation-measure (high-RM) active galactic nuclei (AGN) using the Karl. G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) telescope from 1 to 2 GHz, and 4 to 12 GHz. The sample (14 sources) consists of very compact sources (linear resolution smaller than ≈5 kpc) that are unpolarized at 1.4 GHz in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS). Total intensity data have been modeled using a combination of synchrotron components, revealing complex structure in their radio spectra. Depolarization modeling, through the so-called qu-fitting (the modeling of the fractional quantities of the Stokes Q and U parameters), has been performed on the polarized data using an equation that attempts to simplify the process of fitting many different depolarization models. These models can be divided into two major categories: external depolarization (ED) and internal depolarization (ID) models. Understanding which of the two mechanisms is the most representative would help the qualitative understanding of the AGN jet environment and whether it is embedded in a dense external magneto-ionic medium or if it is the jet-wind that causes the high RM and strong depolarization. This could help to probe the jet magnetic field geometry (e.g., helical or otherwise). This new high-sensitivity data shows a complicated behavior in the total intensity and polarization radio spectrum of individual sources. We observed the presence of several synchrotron components and Faraday components in their total intensity and polarized spectra. For the majority of our targets (12 sources), the depolarization seems to be caused by a turbulent magnetic field. Thus, our main selection criteria (lack of polarization at 1.4 GHz in the NVSS) result in a sample of sources with very large RMs and depolarization due to turbulent magnetic fields local to the source. These broadband JVLA data reveal the complexity of the polarization properties of this class of radio sources. We show how the new qu-fitting technique can be used to probe the magnetized radio source environment and to spectrally resolve the polarized components of unresolved radio sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present photometry, spectra, and spectropolarimetry of supernova (SN) 2012ab, mostly obtained over the course of ∼300 d after discovery. SN 2012ab was a Type IIn (SN IIn) event discovered near the nucleus of spiral galaxy 2MASXJ12224762+0536247. While its light curve resembles that of SN 1998S, its spectral evolution does not.We see indications of CSM interaction in the strong intermediate-width emission features, the high luminosity (peak at absolute magnitude M = -19.5), and the lack of broad absorption features in the spectrum. The Hα emission undergoes a peculiar transition. At early times it shows a broad blue emission wing out to -14 000 km s-1 and a truncated red wing. Then at late times (>100 d) it shows a truncated blue wing and a very broad red emission wing out to roughly +20 000 km s-1. This late-time broad red wing probably arises in the reverse shock. Spectra also show an asymmetric intermediate-width Hα component with stronger emission on the red side at late times. The evolution of the asymmetric profiles requires a density structure in the distant CSM that is highly aspherical. Our spectropolarimetric data also suggest asphericity with a strong continuum polarization of ∼1-3 per cent and depolarization in the Hα line, indicating asphericity in the CSM at a level comparable to that in other SNe IIn.We estimate a mass-loss rate of M = 0.050M☉ yr-1 for vpre = 100 km s-1 extending back at least 75 yr prior to the SN. The strong departure from axisymmetry in the CSM of SN 2012ab may suggest that the progenitor was an eccentric binary system undergoing eruptive mass loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a large change in surface rotation rates of sun-like stars on the pre-main sequence and early main sequence. Since these stars have dynamo-driven magnetic fields, this implies a strong evolution of their magnetic properties over this time period. The spin-down of these stars is controlled by interactions between stellar and magnetic fields, thus magnetic evolution in turn plays an important role in rotational evolution. We present here the second part of a study investigating the evolution of large-scale surface magnetic fields in this critical time period. We observed stars in open clusters and stellar associations with known ages between 120 and 650 Myr, and used spectropolarimetry and Zeeman Doppler Imaging to characterize their large-scale magnetic field strength and geometry. We report 15 stars with magnetic detections here. These stars have masses from 0.8 to 0.95 M⊙, rotation periods from 0.326 to 10.6 d, and we find large-scale magnetic field strengths from 8.5 to 195G with a wide range of geometries. We find a clear trend towards decreasing magnetic field strength with age, and a power law decrease in magnetic field strength with Rossby number. There is some tentative evidence for saturation of the large-scale magnetic field strength at Rossby numbers below 0.1, although the saturation point is not yet well defined. Comparing to younger classical T Tauri stars, we support the hypothesis that differences in internal structure produce large differences in observed magnetic fields, however for weak-lined T Tauri stars this is less clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of spectropolarimetric observations of a number of magnetic white dwarfs obtained on the 6-m optical telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory are presented. The observations were carried out using the SCORPIO focal aperture-ratio reducer in a spectropolarimetric regime. Two characteristic dependences of the degree of polarization on the wavelength are observed. For one group of objects, the degree of linear polarization grows with wavelength, suggesting that the alignment of atoms and molecules in Rydberg states in the atmosphere of the white dwarf due to the action of its magnetic field influences scattering processes. The second group of objects displays an increase in the degrees of both linear and circular polarization with wavelength, providing evidence for the presence of protoplanetary disks around these magnetic white dwarfs, in which the alignment of circumstellar grains leads to the observed behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared, optical and ultraviolet spectropolarimetric observations have proven to be ideal tools for the study of the hidden nuclei of type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGN) and for constraining the composition and morphology of the sub-parsec scale emission components. In this paper, we extend the analysis to the polarization of the X-rays from type 2 AGN. Combining two radiative transfer codes, we performed the first simulations of photons originating in the gravity-dominated vicinity of the black hole and scattering in structures all the way out to the parsec-scale torus and polar winds. We demonstrate that, when strong gravity effects are accounted for, the X-ray polarimetric signal of Seyfert-2s carries as much information about the central AGN components as spectropolarimetric observations of Seyfert-1s. The spectropolarimetric measurements can constrain the spin of the central supermassive black hole even in edge-on AGN, the hydrogen column density along the observer's line-of-sight and the composition of the polar outflows. However, the polarization state of the continuum source is washed out by multiple scattering, and should not be measurable unless the initial polarization is exceptionally strong. Finally, we estimate that modernX-ray polarimeters, either based on the photoelectric effect or on Compton scattering, will require long observational times on the order of a couple of megaseconds to be able to properly measure the polarization of type 2 AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on long-term multiwavelengthmonitoring of blazar Mrk 421 by the GLAST-AGILE Support Program of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (GASP-WEBT) collaboration and Steward Observatory, and by the Swift and Fermi satellites. We study the source behaviour in the period 2007-2015, characterized by several extreme flares. The ratio between the optical, X-ray and γ -ray fluxes is very variable. The γ -ray flux variations show a fair correlation with the optical ones starting from 2012.We analyse spectropolarimetric data and find wavelengthdependence of the polarization degree (P), which is compatible with the presence of the host galaxy, and no wavelength dependence of the electric vector polarization angle (EVPA). Optical polarimetry shows a lack of simple correlation between P and flux and wide rotations of the EVPA.We build broad-band spectral energy distributions with simultaneous near-infrared and optical data from the GASP-WEBT and ultraviolet and X-ray data from the Swift satellite. They show strong variability in both flux and X-ray spectral shape and suggest a shift of the synchrotron peak up to a factor of ~50 in frequency. The interpretation of the flux and spectral variability is compatible with jet models including at least two emitting regions that can change their orientation with respect to the line of sight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A longitudinal magnetic field with a strength of 5.2 kG was recently detected in CPD-62°2124, which has a fractional main-sequence lifetime of about 60 per cent. Strongly magnetic early-B type chemically peculiar stars in an advanced evolutionary state are of special interest to understand the evolution of the angular momentum and spin-down time-scales in the presence of a global magnetic field. We made use of 17 FORS 2 low-resolution spectropolarimetric observations and 844 ASAS3 photometric measurements for the determination of the rotation period, pulsationsand the magnetic field geometry of the star. We calculated periodograms and applied phenomenological models of photometric, spectral and spectropolarimetric variability. We found that all quantities studied, specifically equivalent widths, the mean longitudinal magnetic field {Bz} and the flux in the V filter, vary with the same period P = 2.628 d, which was identified as the rotation period. The observed variations can be fully explained by a rigidly rotating main-sequence star with an uneven distribution of chemical elements, photometric spots and a stable, nearly dipolar magnetic field with a polar field strength of about 21 kG, frozen into the body of the star. The magnetic field of CPD-62°2124 is tilted to the rotation axis by β = 28° ± 7°, while the inclination of the rotation axis towards the line of sight is only i = 20° ± 5°. In the acquired FORS 2 spectra, we detect short-term line profile variations indicating the presence of β Cephei type pulsations. As of today, no other pulsating star of this type is known to possess such a strong magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Hα linear spectropolarimetry of a large sample of Herbig Ae/Be stars. Together with newly obtained data for 17 objects, the sample contains 56 objects, the largest such sample to date. A change in linear polarization across the Hα line is detected in 42 (75 per cent) objects, which confirms the previous finding that the circumstellar environment around these stars on small spatial scales has an asymmetric structure, which is typically identified with a disc. A second outcome of this research is that we confirm that Herbig Ae stars are similar to T Tauri stars in displaying a line polarization effect, while depolarization is more common among Herbig Be stars. This finding had been suggested previously to indicate that Herbig Ae stars form in the same manner than T Tauri stars through magnetospheric accretion. It appears that the transition between these two differing polarization line effects occurs around the B7-B8 spectral type. This would in turn not only suggest that Herbig Ae stars accrete in a similar fashion as lower mass stars, but also that this accretion mechanism switches to a different type of accretion for Herbig Be stars. We report that the magnitude of the line effect caused by electron scattering close to the stars does not exceed 2 per cent. Only a very weak correlation is found between the magnitude of the line effect and the spectral type or the strength of the Hα line. This indicates that the detection of a line effect only relies on the geometry of the line-forming region and the geometry of the scattering electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic fields are detected in a few percent of white dwarfs. The number of such magnetic white dwarfs known is now some hundreds. Fields range in strength from a few kG to several hundred MG. Almost all the known magnetic white dwarfs have a mean field modulus≥1 MG. We are trying to fill a major gap in observational knowledge at the low field limit (≤200 kG) using circular spectro-polarimetry. In this paper we report the discovery and monitoring of strong, periodic magnetic variability in two previously discovered "super-weak field" magnetic white dwarfs, WD2047+372 and WD2359-434. WD2047+372 has a mean longitudinal field that reverses between about -12 and +15 kG, with a period of 0.243 d, while its mean field modulus appears nearly constant at 60 kG. The observations can be interpreted in terms of a dipolar field tilted with respect to the stellar rotation axis. WD2359-434 always shows a weak positive longitudinal field with values between about 0 and +12 kG, varying only weakly with stellar rotation, while the mean field modulus varies between about 50 and 100 kG. The rotation period is found to be 0.112 d using the variable shape of the H line core, consistent with available photometry. The field of this star appears to be much more complex than a dipole, and is probably not axisymmetric. Available photometry shows that WD2359-434 is a light variable with an amplitude of only 0.005 mag; our own photometry shows that if WD2047+372 is photometrically variable, the amplitude is below about 0.01 mag. These are the first models for magnetic white dwarfs with fields below about 100 kG based on magnetic measurements through the full stellar rotation. They reveal two very different magnetic surface configurations, and that, contrary to simple ohmic decay theory, WD2359-434 has a much more complex surface field than the much younger WD2047+372. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectropolarimetry is one of the most powerful methods to study the multi-dimensional geometry of supernovae (SNe). We present a brief summary of the spectropolarimetric observations of strippedenvelope core-collapse SNe. Observations indicate that stripped-envelope SNe generally have a nonaxisymmetric ion distribution in the ejecta. Threedimensional clumpy geometry nicely explains the observed properties. A typical size of the clumps deduced from observations is relatively large: ≥25% of the photosphere. Such a large-scale clumpy structure is similar to that observed in Cassiopeia A, and suggests that large-scale convection or standing accretion shock instability takes place at the onset of the explosion. This article is part of the themed issue 'Bridging the gap: from massive stars to supernovae'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

49 Cam is a cool magnetic chemically peculiar star that has been noted for showing strong, complex Zeeman linear polarization signatures. This paper describes magnetic and chemical surface maps obtained for 49 Cam using the INVERS10 magnetic Doppler imaging code and high-resolution spectropolarimetric data in all four Stokes parameters collected with the ESPaDOnS and Narval spectropolarimeters at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and Pic du Midi Observatory. The reconstructed magnetic field maps of 49 Cam show a relatively complex structure. Describing the magnetic field topology in terms of spherical harmonics, we find significant contributions of modes up to ℓ = 3, including toroidal components. Observations cannot be reproduced using a simple low-order multipolar magnetic field structure. 49 Cam exhibits a level of field complexity that has not been seen in magnetic maps of other cool Ap stars. Hence, we concluded that relatively complex magnetic fields are observed in Ap stars at both low and high effective temperatures. In addition to mapping the magnetic field, we also derive surface abundance distributions of nine chemical elements, including Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ce, Pr, Nd and Eu. Comparing these abundance maps with the reconstructed magnetic field geometry, we find no clear relationship of the abundance distributions with the magnetic field for some elements. However, for other elements some distinct patterns are found. We discuss these results in the context of other recent magnetic mapping studies and theoretical predictions of radiative diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new semi-automatic approach is employed to carry out the abundance analysis of highresolution spectra of HD 41076 and HD 148330 obtained recently with the spectropolarimetre Echelle SpectroPolarimetric Device for Observations of Stars at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. This approach allows to prepare in a semi-automatic mode the input data for the modified ZEEMAN2 code and to analyse several hundreds of line profiles in sequence during a single run. It also provides more information on abundance distribution for each chemical element at the deeper atmospheric layers. Our analysis of the Balmer profiles observed in the spectra of HD 41076 and HD 148330 has resulted in the estimates of their effective temperature, gravity, metallicity and radial velocity. The respective models of stellar atmosphere have been calculated with the code PHOENIX and used to carry out abundance analysis employing the modified ZEEMAN2 code. The analysis shows a deficit of the C, N, F, Mg, Ca, Ti, V, Cu, Y, Mo, Sm and Gd, and overabundance of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Sr, Zr, Ba, Ce, Nd and Dy in the stellar atmosphere of HD 41076. In the atmosphere of HD 148330, the C, N and Mo appear to be underabundant, while the Ne, Na, Al, Si, P, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Dy are overabundant. We also have found signatures of vertical abundance stratification of Fe, Ti, Cr and Mn in HD 41076, and of Fe, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Y, Zr, Ce, Nd, Sm and Gd in HD 148330. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a sequence of eight spectropolarimetric observations monitoring the geometric evolution of the late phase of the major 2012 outburst of SN 2009ip. These were acquired with the Focal Reducer and Low Dispersion Spectrograph polarimeter mounted on European Southern Observatory VLT. The continuum was polarized at 0.3-0.8 per cent throughout the observations, showing that the photosphere deviated substantially from spherical symmetry by 10-15 per cent. Significant line polarization is detected for both hydrogen and helium at high velocities. The similarity in the polarized signal between these elements indicates that they form in the same location in the ejecta. The line polarization (p ~ 1-1.5 per cent) at low velocities revealed the presence of a highly aspherical hydrogen- and helium-rich circumstellar medium (CSM). Monte Carlo simulations of the observed polarimetry were performed in an effort to constrain the shape of the CSM. The simulations imply that the polarimetry can be understood within the framework of a disc-like CSM inclined by 14° ± 2° out of the line of sight, obscuring the photosphere only at certain epochs. The varying temporal evolution of polarization at high and low velocities indicated that the fast-moving ejecta expanded with a preferred direction orthogonal to that of the CSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale magnetic fields at the surface of massive stars do not only influence the outer-most layers of the star, but also have consequences for the deep interior, only observationally accessible through asteroseismology. We performed a detailed characterization of the dipolar magnetic field at the surface of the B3.5V star HD43317, a SPB/β Cep hybrid pulsator, by studying the rotationally modulated magnetic field of archival and new Narval spectropolarimetry. Additionally, we employed a grid-based approach to compare the Zeeman signatures with model profiles. By studying the rotational modulation of the He lines in both the Narval and HARPS spectroscopy caused by co-rotating surface abundance inhomogeneities, we updated the rotation period to 0.897673 ±0.000004 d. The inclination angle between the rotation axis and the observer's line of sight remains ill-defined, because of the low level of variability in Stokes V and deformations in the intensity profiles by stellar pulsation modes. The obliquity angle between the rotation and magnetic axes is constrained to β ∈ [67; 90]°, and the strength of the dipolar magnetic field is of the order of 1 kG to 1.5 kG. This magnetic field at the stellar surface is su°ciently strong to warrant a uniformly rotating radiative envelope, causing less convective core overshooting, which should be visible in future forward seismic modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Ground-based observations of the Earthshine, i.e., the light scattered by Earth to the Moon, and then reflected back to Earth, simulate space observations of our planet and represent a powerful benchmark for the studies of Earth-like planets. Earthshine spectra are strongly linearly polarized, owing to scattering by molecules and small particles in the atmosphere of the Earth and surface reflection, and may allow us to measure global atmospheric and surface properties of planet Earth. Aims.We aim to interpret already published spectropolarimetric observations of the Earthshine by comparing them with new radiative transfer model simulations including a fully realistic three-dimensional (3D) surface-atmosphere model for planet Earth. Methods. We used the highly advanced Monte Carlo radiative transfer model MYSTIC to simulate polarized radiative transfer in the atmosphere of the Earth without approximations regarding the geometry, taking into account the polarization from surface reflection and multiple scattering by molecules, aerosol particles, cloud droplets, and ice crystals. Results. We have shown that Earth spectropolarimetry is highly sensitive to all these input parameters, and we have presented simulations of a fully realistic Earth atmosphere-surface model including 3D cloud fields and two-dimensional (2D) surface property maps. Our modeling results show that scattering in high ice water clouds and reflection from the ocean surface are crucial to explain the continuum polarization at longer wavelengths as has been reported in Earthshine observations taken at the Very Large Telescope in 2011 (3.8% and 6.6% at 800 nm, depending on which part of Earth was visible from the Moon at the time of the observations). We found that the relatively high degree of polarization of 6.6% can be attributed to light reflected by the ocean surface in the sunglint region. High ice-water clouds reduce the amount of absorption in the O2A band and thus explain the weak O2A band feature in the observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-series spectropolarimetric observations of polar WX LMi and asynchronous polar BY Cam are presented. Magnetic field properties, radial velocities and optical polarization are investigated via consecutive observations with good phase sampling during a single orbital cycle. Both systems are found to have a decentred dipole magnetic field configuration. One of the poles of WX LMi has a field strength of 49 MG, while the other pole may have possible field strengths of 69, 104 or 207 MG, depending on the harmonic numbers of the cyclotron humps observed in the circularly polarized spectrum. For BY Cam, a field strength of 168 MG is found for one of the poles, while field strengths of 70, 160 or 212 MG are possible for the other pole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on recent results froma target-of-opportunity program to obtain spectropolarimetry observations with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) on flaring gamma-ray blazars. SALT spectropolarimetry and contemporaneous multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) data are being modelled self-consistently with a leptonic single-zone model. Such modeling provides an accurate estimate of the degree of order of the magnetic field in the emission region and the thermal contributions (from the host galaxy and the accretion disk) to the SED, thus putting strong constraints on the physical parameters of the gamma-ray emitting region. For the specific case of the γ-ray blazar 4C+01.02, we demonstrate that the combined SED and spectropolarimetry modeling constrains the mass of the central black hole in this blazar to MBH∼109M⊙. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst O-type stars with detected magnetic fields, the fast rotator in the close binary called Plaskett's star shows a variety of unusual properties. Since strong binary interactions are believed to have occurred in this system, one may wonder about their potential role in generating magnetic fields. Stokes V spectra collected with the low-resolution FORS2 and high-resolution ESPaDOnS and Narval spectropolarimeters were therefore used to search for magnetic fields in 15 interacting or post-interaction massive binaries. No magnetic field was detected in any of them, with 0 G always being within 2σ of the derived values. For 17 out of 25 stars in the systems observed at high resolution, the 90 per cent upper limit on the individual dipolar fields is below the dipolar field strength of Plaskett's secondary; a similar result is found for five out of six systems observed at low resolution. If our sample is considered to form a group of stars sharing similar magnetic properties, a global statistical analysis results in a stringent upper limit of ~200 G on the dipolar field strength. Moreover, the magnetic incidence rate in the full sample of interacting or post-interaction systems (our targets + Plaskett's star) is compatible with that measured from large surveys, showing that they are not significantly different from the general O-star population. These results suggest that binary interactions play no systematic role in the magnetism of such massive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HD 164492C is a spectroscopic triple stellar system that has been recently detected to possess a strong magnetic field. We have obtained high-resolution spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observations over a time span of two years and derived physical, chemical and magnetic properties for this object. The system is formed by an eccentric close spectroscopic binary (Ca1-Ca2) with a period of 12.5 d, and a massive tertiary Cb. We calculated the orbital parameters of the close pair, reconstructed the spectra of the three components and determined atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances by spectral synthesis. From spectropolarimetric observations, multi-epoch measurements of the longitudinal magnetic fields were obtained. The magnetic field is strongly variable on time-scales of a few days, with a most probable period in the range of 1.4-1.6 d. Star Cb with Teff ~ 25 000 K is apparently the fastest rotator and the most massive star of this triple system and has anomalous chemical abundances with a marked overabundance of helium, 0.35±0.04 by number. We identified this star as being responsible for the observed magnetic field, although the presence of magnetic fields in the components of the Ca pair cannot be excluded. Star Ca1 with a temperature of about 24 000 K presents a normal chemical pattern, while the least massive star Ca2 is a mid-B-type star (Teff ~ 15 000 K) with an overabundance of silicon. The obtained stellar parameters of the system components suggest a distance of 1.5 kpc and an age of 10-15 Myr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of photometry, spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry of the chemically peculiar stars often aims to study the complex physical phenomena such as stellar pulsation, chemical inhomogeneity, magnetic field and their interplay with stellar atmosphere and circumstellar environment. The prime objective of this study is to determine the atmospheric parameters of a set of Am stars to understand their evolutionary status. Atmospheric abundances and basic parameters are determined using full spectrum fitting technique by comparing the high-resolution spectra to the synthetic spectra. To know the evolutionary status, we derive the effective temperature and luminosity from different methods and compare them with the literature. The location of these stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram demonstrates that all the sample stars are evolved from the zero-age main sequence towards terminal-age main sequence and occupy the region of δ Sct instability strip. The abundance analysis shows that the light elements e.g. Ca and Sc are underabundant while iron peak elements such as Ba, Ce, etc. are overabundant and these chemical properties are typical for Am stars. The results obtained from the spectropolarimetric analysis of our studied stars show that the longitudinal magnetic field is negligible in all of them, which further support to their Am class of peculiarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The thermal structure of the penumbra below its visible surface (i.e., τ5 ≥ 1) has important implications for our present understanding of sunspots and their penumbrae: their brightness and energy transport, mode conversion of magneto-acoustic waves, sunspot seismology, and so forth. Aims: We aim at determining the thermal stratification in the layers immediately beneath the visible surface of the penumbra: τ5 ∈ [1,3] (≈70-80 km below the visible continuum-forming layer). Methods: We analyzed spectropolarimetric data (i.e., Stokes profiles) in three Fe i lines located at 1565 nm observed with the GRIS instrument attached to the 1.5-m solar telescope GREGOR. The data are corrected for the smearing effects of wide-angle scattered light and then subjected to an inversion code for the radiative transfer equation in order to retrieve, among others, the temperature as a function of optical depth T(τ5). Results: We find that the temperature gradient below the visible surface of the penumbra is smaller than in the quiet Sun. This implies that in the region τ5 ≥ 1 the penumbral temperature diverges from that of the quiet Sun. The same result is obtained when focusing only on the thermal structure below the surface of bright penumbral filaments. Conclusions: We interpret these results as evidence of a thick penumbra, whereby the magnetopause is not located near its visible surface. In addition, we find that the temperature gradient in bright penumbral filaments is lower than in granules. This can be explained in terms of the limited expansion of a hot upflow inside a penumbral filament relative to a granular upflow, as magnetic pressure and tension forces from the surrounding penumbral magnetic field hinder an expansion like this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Polarimetry is a powerful remote sensing tool to characterise solar system planets and, potentially, to detect and characterise exoplanets. The linear polarisation of a planet as a function of wavelength and phase angle is sensitive to the cloud and haze particle properties in planetary atmospheres, as well as to their altitudes and optical thicknesses. Aims: We present for the first time polarimetric signals of Jupiter mapped over the entire disk, showing features such as contrasts between the belts and zones, the polar regions, and the Great Red Spot. We investigate the use of these maps for atmospheric characterisation and discuss the potential application of polarimetry to the study of the atmospheres of exoplanets. Methods: We have obtained polarimetric images of Jupiter, in the B, V, and R filters, over a phase angle range of α = 4°-10.5°. In addition, we have obtained two spectropolarimetric datasets, over the wavelength range 500-850 nm. An atmospheric model was sought for all of the datasets, which was consistent with the observed behaviour over the wavelength and phase angle range. Results: The polarimetric maps show clear latitudinal structure, with increasing polarisation towards the polar regions, in all filters. The spectropolarimetric datasets show a decrease in polarisation as a function of wavelength along with changes in the polarisation in methane absorption bands. A model fit was achieved by varying the cloud height and haze optical thickness; this can roughly produce the variation across latitude for the V and R filters, but not for the B filter data. The same model particles are also able to produce a close fit to the spectropolarimetric data. The atmosphere of Jupiter is known to be complex in structure, and data taken at intermediate phase angles (unreachable for Earth-based telescopes) seems essential for a complete characterisation of the atmospheric constituents. Because exoplanets orbit other stars, they are observable at intermediate phase angles and thus promise to be better targets for Earth-based polarimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]