OVI 6830\AA\ Imaging Polarimetry of Symbiotic Stars

Abstract

I present here the first results from an ongoing pilot project with the 1.6 m telescope at the OPD, Brasil, aimed at the detection of the OVI $\lambda$6830 line via linear polarization in symbiotic stars. The main goal is to demonstrate that OVI imaging polarimetry is an efficient technique for discovering new symbiotic stars. The OVI $\lambda$6830 line is found in 5 out of 9 known symbiotic stars, in which the OVI line has already been spectroscopically confirmed, with at least 3-$\sigma$ detection. Three new symbiotic star candidates have also been found.