Polarimetry toward the <i>IRAS</i> Vela Shell. I. The Catalog

Abstract

We have obtained linear polarization measurements of stars along the western side of the IRAS Vela Shell toward HD 62542. From 16 CCD fields distributed along the ionization front (I-front) we have built a catalog of 856 objects with polarization signal-to-noise ratio larger than 10. We detect very significant levels of polarization and hence an appreciable magnetic field throughout the region. Composite polarization maps around the I-front are shown. In some regions the polarization vectors are parallel to the I-front, but a perpendicular trend is also evident along parts of the front. In addition, the polarization pattern seems to be affected by gas streaming inside the cloud.