New circumstellar magnetic field diagnostics

Abstract

In this paper I will discuss new magnetic field diagnostics and instrumentation for an area of astrophysics where magnetic field observations have been difficult - circumstellar material. Such diagnostics would be particularly relevant to star formation and evolution. Stellar photosphere diagnostics include the Zeeman effect and atomic scattering diagnostics like the Hanle Effect and atomic alignment. The Zeeman Effect is in general not sensitive enough for the field strengths expected for circumstellar material, and it is easily defeated by Doppler broadening in a dynamic envelope. Atomic scattering diagnostics, pioneered recently for the Sun, are promising, but have never been applied outside the Sun. For the study of unresolved envelopes, the Hanle Effect may be applicable particularly in the ultraviolet. A medium resolution UV spectropolarimeter, for instance, would serve for such studies. Atomic alignment effects could utilize a ground-based, high signal-to-noise spectropolarimeter, with profile information from high spectral resolution. I will briefly mention several instrumentation development efforts in these directions.