Stellar Polarimetry

To many astrophysicists, Stellar Polarimetry is a Cinderella subject with insignificant interest and, at the same time, being so esoteric as to be ignored and left alone. Some have promoted the theme with an enthusiastic passion and to great reward. Such pioneers have shown that polarimetric studies within Astronomy have a strong role to play either in their own right, or in combination with other observational tools, as a diagnostic for understanding the behaviour of celestrial sources.

In his presentation of Stellar Polarimetry, the Chapter titles are listed as:

• Introduction and History
• The Polarization Ellipse
• The Algebra of Polarization
• The Stokes Parameters
• Polarization Statistics and Data Treatment
• The Basics of Polarimetric Elements
• Pre-Measurement Distortions
• Polarimetric Principles and Instruments
• Some Polarigenic Mechanisms
• Interstellar Polarization
• Binary Stars
• Stars with Magnetic Fields
• Early-Type Stars
• Late-Type Stars
• General Stellar Variability