Polarization of Astronomical Maser Radiation. IV. Circular Polarization Profiles

Abstract

Profile comparison of the Stokes parameters $V$ and $I$ is a powerful tool for maser data analysis, providing 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 linewidth. Circular polarization recently detected in OH 1720 MHz emission from the Galactic center appears to provide the first direct evidence for maser saturation.

14 pages, 1 Postscript figures (included), uses aaspp4.sty. To appear in Astrophysical Journal

References in corpus (1)

• Polarization Observations of 1720 MHz OH Masers toward the Three Supernova Remnants W28, W44, and IC443

Cited by in corpus (21)

• OH Zeeman Magnetic Field Detections Toward Five Supernova Remnants Using the VLA
• A new probe of magnetic fields during high-mass star formation: Zeeman splitting of 6.7 GHz methanol masers
• Full polarization study of SiO masers at 86 GHz
• High-resolution Observations of OH(1720 MHz) Masers Toward the Galactic Center
• The Sizes of 1720 MHz OH Masers: VLBA and MERLIN Observations of the Supernova Remnants W44 and W28
• Polarimetric observations of OH masers in proto-planetary nebulae
• OH (1720 MHz) Masers: A Multiwavelength Study of the Interaction between the W51C Supernova Remnant and the W51B Star Forming Region
• The OH (1720 MHz) Supernova Remnant Masers in W44: MERLIN and VLBA Polarization Observations
• The OH (1720 MHz) Supernova Remnant Masers in W28: MERLIN and VLBA Polarization Observations
• Circular Polarization of Circumstellar Water Masers around S Per
• The Sizes of OH (1720 MHz) Supernova Remnant Masers: MERLIN and VLBA Observations of IC443
• A Very High Spectral Resolution Study of Ground-State OH Masers in W3(OH)
• Polarization properties of OH emission in planetary nebulae
• Characterizing maser polarization: effects of saturation, anisotropic pumping and hyperfine structure
• A search for OH 6 GHz maser emission towards supernova remnants
• Magnetic Field Structure of Orion Source I
• MAGMO: Polarimetry of 1720-MHz OH Masers towards Southern Star Forming Regions
• Effelsberg Observations of Excited-State (6.0 GHz) OH in Supernova Remnants and W3(OH)
• Amplification of OAM Radiation by Astrophysical Masers
• Molecules and Chemistry in Red Supergiants
• First detection of circular polarization in 4.7 GHz excited OH masers