Imaging polarimetry of comet C1996 B2 (Hyakutake) at the perigee

Polarimetric imaging of the inner coma of the comet C1996 B2 (Hyakutake) was obtained in the BVRI bands while the comet was close to its perigee passage, in March 1996. During the observing period the comet geocentric distance was 0.13–0.17 AU and its solar phase angle varied between 37 and 101°. The results show a strong and complex correlation between comet activity and the degree of polarization. During the first nights of observation, when the comet was relatively inactive, the images of the degree of polarization do not exhibit any structure, whereas during the last night, when several jets were visible and some comet fragments were reported by other observations, an intense jet was visible in the polarization image.