A Primer on Far‐Infrared Polarimetry

Abstract

We present an introduction to observing procedures and principles of analysis used in far‐infrared polarimetry. The observing procedures are those for single‐dish observations of thermal emission from aligned dust grains. We discuss techniques for removing backgrounds and for reducing and evaluating errors. The principles of analysis are those required for interpreting polarization maps and polarization spectra in terms of opacity, field structure, and variations in temperature and polarizing efficiency.