Polarized Infrared Emission from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Implications

  • Hoang, Thiem (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute & Korea University of Science and Technology)
  • Published : 2017.10.10

Abstract

Polarized mid-infrared emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can provide a crucial test of basic physics of alignment of nanoparticles and opens a potential new window into studying magnetic fields. In this talk, I will present a new model of polarized PAH emission that takes into account the effect of PAH alignment with the magnetic field due to resonance paramagnetic relaxation. I will then present our predictions for the polarization level of the strong PAH emission features from the interstellar medium. I will present the first detection of polarization of PAH emission at 11.3micron which is consistent with our theoretical prediction. Finally, I will discuss important implications of this work for tracing magnetic fields via mid-IR PAH features and for constraining the polarization of anomalous microwave emission that is useful for the quest of CMB B-modes.

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