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Polarization Of Astronomical Maser Radiation. Iv. Circular Polarization Profiles, Moshe Elitzur
Polarization Of Astronomical Maser Radiation. Iv. Circular Polarization Profiles, Moshe Elitzur
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Profile comparison of the Stokes parameters V and I is a powerful tool for maser data analysis, which provides the first direct methods for unambiguous determination of (1) the maser saturation stage, (2) the amplification optical depth and intrinsic Doppler width of unsaturated masers, and (3) the comparative magnitudes of Zeeman splitting and Doppler line width. Circular polarization recently detected in OH 1720 MHz emission from the Galactic center appears to provide the first direct evidence for maser saturation.
Polarization Of Astronomical Maser Radiation. Iii. Arbitrary Zeeman Splitting And Anisotropic Pumping, Moshe Elitzur
Polarization Of Astronomical Maser Radiation. Iii. Arbitrary Zeeman Splitting And Anisotropic Pumping, Moshe Elitzur
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
General solutions of the maser polarization problem are presented for arbitrary absorption coefficients. The results are used to calculate polarization for masers permeated by magnetic fields with arbitrary values of χB, the ratio of Zeeman splitting to Doppler linewidth, and for anisotropic (m-dependent) pumping. In the case of magnetic fields, one solution describes the polarization for overlapping Zeeman components, χB < 1. The χB → 0 limit of this solution reproduces the linear polarization derived in previous studies, which were always conducted at this unphysical limit. Terms of higher order in χB have a negligible effect on …