Abstract
WE have discovered circular polarization of the reflected light from Jupiter, the first detection at optical wavelengths of this type of polarization in light from a planet. The discovery was made at Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii, with a photoelastic polarimeter used also in measurements on magnetic white dwarf stars1. The first results were obtained with the 88 inch telescope on the night of March 31, 1971, and protracted observations were made with a 24 inch telescope on the nights of April 11, 20 and 21.
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References
Kemp, J. C., Swedlund, J. B., and Wolstencroft, R. D., Astrophys. J., 164, L17 (1971).
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Kemp, J. C., and Wolstencroft, R. D., Nature, 231, 170 (1971).
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KEMP, J., SWEDLUND, J., MURPHY, R. et al. Physical Sciences: Circularly Polarized Visible Light from Jupiter. Nature 231, 169–170 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/231169a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/231169a0
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