Effect of continuum absorption on the polarization of resonance lines

Abstract

Multiple resonance scattering of radiation in a spectrum line with absorption in the continuum isexamined. It is assumed that the scattering atmosphere is semi-infinite and that there is no magnetic field or continuum emission at the frequencies of the spectrum line. The polarization characteristics of the emerging radiation are determined for unpolarized primary radiation sources distributed uniformly within an atmosphere in the case of a Voigt absorption profile. The calculations employ an iterative solution of the Ambartsumyan-Chandrasekhar matrix integral equation.