We have measured the continuum band polarization in Comet Hale-Bopp C/1995 O1.
The polarization near perihelion is largest in comet Hale Bopp than observed
so far in any comet at the corresponding phase angles. In the classification
scheme based on the polarization (Levasseur-Regourd et al.
1996) this comet belongs to the high polarization class of comets.
Comet Hale-Bopp exhibits stronger wavelength dependence of polarization than
other comets. We conclude that Comet Hale-Bopp C/1995 O1 contains smaller
grains compared to comets Halley or Austin. The albedo of the dust
particles in this comet is found to be very low, a case similar to Comet
Halley.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Prof. K.S. Krishnaswamy for useful discussions; Donald Yeomans for providing the ephemeris; and engineers N.M. Vadher, A.B. Shah and V.M. Shah for their help during observations. Use of the NASA ADS Abstract Service is acknowledged. This work is funded by Department of Space, Government of India.