Letters of Intent received in 2018

LoI 2020-2048
Astronomical Polarimetry 2020 --- A new era of polarimetry from small to large scales

Topics

Polarization Instrumentation and Laboratory data
Theory and Mechanism on Polarization in Astronomy
Polarization in CSM and Star Formation
Polarization in ISM and Molecular Clouds
Polarization in Sun and Stellar Magnetic Fields
Polarization in Solar and Stellar Systems and Exoplanets
Polarization in HE Objects and Outburst Phenomena
Polarization in External Galaxies, AGNs and CMB

Rationale

It has been more than 60 years since Hall and Hiltner reported the
partially linearly polarized light from reddened stars. Around the same
time, Davis and Greenstein presented the model to interpret the phenomena
owing to aligned dust grains in the interstellar medium.
Since then, astronomical polarimetry community has grown tremendously to
apply the technique to answer big questions in astronomy, from small
scales such as dust particles in planetary systems up to large ones to
predict the origin and the fate of the universe.
The first â?~Astropolâ?T conference series was held in 1970s. After that,
there was the 1995 meeting at New York in the USA, and the 2004 Hawaii
meeting at Waikoloa followed. The 2008 Quebec meeting in Canada discussed
sciences from small to large telescopes, and in 2014, the Grenoble meeting
in France covered laboratory experiments, solar systems, exoplanets,
stellar magnetic fields, ISM, galaxies, Gamma-ray bursts, and CMB, and has
recorded the number of participants roughly 150.
Since 2014, a number of well-sophisticated instruments and datasets became
available to the community. We welcome ALMA that celebrated its
inauguration in 2013 and started polarization observations in 2014. Data
release of all-sky microwave and far-infrared polarization mapping by
Planck satellite also gave impacts in astronomical many fields. Besides,
Astrosat, Hitomi and balloon experiments brought us new sights for
polarized sky in X-ray and Gamma-ray regime.
Past applications of astronomical polarimetry has unveiled a number of
mysteries of the universe. Even though the community has greatly expanded,
the fact that â?~polarimetry is still perceived as an exotic observing
mode by the astronomical communityâ?T, as described in the preface if the
2004 Astropol Hawaii meeting, has not changed. As an example, after 5 yrs
of operation, ALMA still does recognize polarization observation as
â?onon-standard modeâ? and it does not certify the products of ALMA
measured polarization data.
We will organize the 6th Astropol meeting at Hiroshima, Japan. This is the
first time ever for the community to have this series of meetings in a
country in Asia. The astronomical community in Asia has been rapidly
growing, and this symposium will provide an opportunity for students and
young scientists in Asia to participate the meeting and to discuss the
progresses in astronomical polarimetry.