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Polarization within the Interstellar 4430 Å Absorption Band

Abstract

IT was reported by Nandy and Seddon1 recently that the wavelength dependence of interstellar polarization for the star HD 198478 shows a conspicuous band-like feature in a wavelength region coincident with the 4430 Å interstellar absorption band. The increase in polarization near the band centre above that of the neighbouring continuum could be in the range 50–100% within the accuracy of the existing data. No satisfactory theoretical interpretation of this phenomenon has yet been given. It seems likely that the new data may hold a clue which could help in the understanding of the nature of diffuse interstellar bands.

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WICKRAMASINGHE, N., NANDY, K. Polarization within the Interstellar 4430 Å Absorption Band. Nature Physical Science 229, 234–236 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci229234a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci229234a0

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