We present optical and near-infrared stellar polarization observations toward the dark filamentary clouds associated with IC5146. The data allow us to investigate the dust properties (this paper) and the magnetic field structure (Paper II). A total of 2022 background stars were detected in the Rc, i', H, and/or K bands to A_V_2.5mag, which is larger than the ~0.55{mu}m in the general interstellar medium (ISM), suggesting that grain growth has already started in low-AV regions. Our data also reveal that polarization efficiency (PE=P_{lambda}/A_V) decreases with A_V_ as a power law in the Rc, i', and K bands with indices of -0.71+/-0.10, -1.23+/-0.10, and -0.53+/-0.09. However, H-band data show a power index change; the PE varies with A_V_ steeply (index of -0.95+/-0.30) when A_V_<2.88+/-0.67mag, but softly (index of -0.25+/-0.06) for greater AV values. The soft decay of PE in high-AV regions is consistent with the radiative alignment torque model, suggesting that our data trace the magnetic field to A_V_~20mag. Furthermore, the breakpoint found in the H band is similar to that for A_V_, where we found the P_Rc_/P_H_ dispersion significantly decreased. Therefore, the flat PE-A_V_ in high-A_V_ regions implies that the power-index changes result from additional grain growth.

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/849/157/table1 (Measured polarization properties of stars probing the IC5146 dark cloud complex)