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D. T. Chuss, G. Novak (Northwestern University), R. H. Hildebrand (University of Chicago), J. E. Vaillancourt (University of Wisconsin), C. D. Dowell (Caltech), J. L. Dotson, J. A. Davidson (NASA Ames)
SPARO, a 450\micron polarimeter operated at the South Pole, and Hertz, a 350\micron polarimeter operated at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory(CSO) provide complimentary information concerning the inferred magnetic field direction in the dust component of the Galactic Center. SPARO's low angular resolution (5\arcmin) map of the Galactic Center shows a predominantly toroidal field which is expected from the shear effect of Galactic rotation. Hertz's higher resolution (20\arcsec) indicates that on smaller scales, the field is more complex and correlates with structures seen in mid-IR and radio continuum maps. These recent Hertz observations suggest that a diffuse component of submillimeter emission may be associated with this hotter structure. We have found that the polarization anti-correlates with the submillimeter flux, indicating a constant polarized flux (P\times F). In this scenario, the dense clouds dilute polarization that is produced in a more extended and diffuse source.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: chuss@belmont.astro.nwu.edu