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| Paper: |
Polarimetry of trans-Neptunian Objects |
| Volume: |
449, Astronomical Polarimetry 2008: Science from Small to Large Telescopes |
| Page: |
365 |
| Authors: |
Bagnulo, S.; Belskaya, I.; Kolokolova, L.; Muinonen, K.; Tozzi, G. P.; Barucci, A. |
| Abstract: |
For a long time, polarimetry has been routinely used to investigate
the physical properties of various solar system bodies, including
asteroids and comets, but it was only thanks to the large-size
telescopes that it has become possible to extend these studies to the
faint trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Polarimetric observations of
TNOs as a function of the Sun-Object-Observer (phase) angle yield
information about wavelength-scale physical properties of their
surfaces, for example, particle size and complex refractive index, as
well as the mean free path in multiple scattering. A vigourous
observational campaign was carried out at the ESO Very Large
Telescope, to measure the polarization of a sample of TNOs
as function of the phase angle. Here we report the strategy
adopted for observations and data reduction, as well as the scientific
outcomes obtained so far, which include the discovery of two distint
polarimetric behaviors among TNOs. |
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