Spectropolarimetry of the dwarf nova IP Peg

Abstract

We present spectropolarimetric observations of the eclipsing dwarf nova IP Peg in quiescence. The data show linear polarizations with a mean value of 0.10+/-0.06 per cent. There are no significant differences between the continuum and line polarizations and no significant variations with wavelength or binary phase. We argue that the measured polarization may be attributed to scattering in the interstellar medium and hence conclude that there is no evidence of polarization intrinsic to IP Peg.