A penetrating look.When discussing how polarized A one-way direction of a signal or the molecules within a material pointing in one direction. light can help clarify our understanding of supernova mechanisms, "Astronomy Gets Polarized" (SN: 7/8/06, p. 24) initially quotes Doug Leonard's explanation that "one does not see deeper into an object using polarimetry Polarimetry The science of determining the polarization state of electromagnetic radiation (x-rays, light or radio waves). Radiation is said to be linearly polarized when the electric vector oscillates in only one plane. " Later, the story says that "polarization studies viewed deeper and deeper layers of the explosion." Which is it? HAL Hal: see Halle, Belgium. hal In Sufism, a state of mind reached from time to time by mystics during their journey toward God. The ahwal (plural of hal) are God-given graces that appear when a soul is purified of its attachments to the material world. HEATON, DAMASCUS, MD. Polarization studies don't provide a more penetrating view in the way that a radio wave or infrared detector An infrared detector is a photodetector that reacts to infrared (IR) radiation. The two main types of detectors are thermal and photonic. The thermal effects of the incident IR radiation can be followed through many temperature dependent phenomena. can peer through dust. Rather, as dust around a supernova thins, the amount of polarized light can tell you the shape of the exploded star. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion