NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
The noise of BL LacertaeResults are presented from an intensive optical and IR monitoring program of the flux and polarization characteristics of BL Lac. It is found that the polarization variations increase in amplitude with increasing time interval, and that the path traced out by the polarization vector in the Q-U plane is a random walk. In view of earlier measurements of BL Lac, the polarization fluctuations can be represented at low frequencies by the flat power spectrum of white noise, up to a frequency of 0.05 cycles/day. Above this frequency, the spectrum steepens to that of a random walk. A model for BL Lac suggested by the polarimetric noise can be constructed from independent sources of light with randomly oriented, strong polarization. Small random differences in spectral index from source to source could also explain the variable wavelength dependence of polarization.
Document ID
19820061048
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Moore, R. L.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Angel, J. R. P.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Duerr, R.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Lebofsky, M. J.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Wisniewski, W. Z.
(Steward Observatory Tucson, AZ, United States)
Rieke, G. H.
(Steward Observatory; Arizona, University Tucson, AZ, United States)
Axon, D. J.
(University College London, United Kingdom)
Bailey, J.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Hough, J. M.
(Hatfield Polytechnic Hatfield, Herts., United Kingdom)
Mcgraw, J. T.
(Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
September 15, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
82A44583
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-78-19753
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-80-20603
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-33087
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-78-22714
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available