Interstellar polarization at high galactic latitudes from distant stars. 2: First results for Z less than or equal to 600 PC We present the first results from our Crimean-Tuorla program forpolarimetry of distant stars at high galactic latitudes. The availableobservations reveal a clear increase in the interstellar linearpolarization of A and F stars, up to Z approximately equals 600 pc whereone reaches PV approximately equals 0.25%. This means anaverage AB greater than or equal to 0.11 mag over thenorthern polar cap for the diffuse component of the interstellarextinction that we are probing. There is no clear indication in the datathat the asymptotic level of PV has been reached, and withfuture observations above Z = 600 pc we shall investigate this question.The trend found is in agreement with the stellar reddening analysis byTeerikorpi (1990). The directions of the plane of vibration are inagreement with Markkanen's (1979) analysis of closer (Z less than 200pc) stars in his 'Area II'. Outside of this area we define two sectors Band C which encompass the Local Spiral Arm and had little stars inprevious investigations. Here the polarization vectors deviate stronglyfrom those in Markkanen's Area II, where one is probably looking at aninterarm region, close to the edge of the Local Spiral Arm. Ourmeasurements indicate for B and C average polarization vectorsconsistent with the direction l approximately equals 110 deg obtained byother authors for the magnetic field in the Local Spiral Arm using therotation measure method.
Kinematics and properties of F stars near the North Galactic Pole. II - The isothermal disc Radial velocities are given for about 550 photometrically-identifieddisk-population F stars lying within 15 deg of the North Galactic Pole.The overall radial and z-velocity distributions are found to be closelyGaussian, with corrected rms and mean z velocities of 11.3 + or - 0.6and -9.5 + or - 0.5 km/s, respectively. The isothermal kinematics of thepopulation are reflected in the constant velocity dispersion to a zdistance of 400 pc. No systematic variation of either the velocitydispersion or the stellar age with the metallicity-sensitive Stromgrendelta m1 index is noted over a range of ages up to 5 Gyr.
