Magnetic Fields In Galaxies Research Articles

A small-scale dynamo in feedback-dominated galaxies – II. The saturation phase and the final magnetic configuration

Magnetic fields in galaxies are believed to be the result of dynamo amplification of initially weak seed fields, reaching equipartition strength inside the interstellar medium. The small-scale dynamo appears to be a viable mechanism to explain observations of strong magnetic fields in present-day and high-redshift galaxies, considering the extreme weakness of seed fields predicted by battery mechanisms or primordial fields. Performing high-resolution adaptive mesh magneto-hydrodynamic simulations of a small mass, isolated cooling halo with an initial magnetic seed field strength well below equipartition, we follow the small-scale dynamo amplification from supernova-induced turbulence up to saturation of the field. We find that saturation occurs when the average magnetic pressure reaches only 3 % to 5 % of the turbulent pressure. The magnetic energy growth transitions from exponential to linear, and finally comes to halt. The saturation level increases slightly with grid resolution. These results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions for magnetic Prandtl numbers of order $\mathrm{Pr_M} \sim 1$ and turbulent Mach numbers of order $\mathrm{M} \sim 10$. When we suppress supernova feedback after our simulation has reached saturation, we find that turbulence decays and that the gas falls back onto a thin disk with the magnetic field in local equipartition. We propose a scenario in which galactic magnetic fields are amplified from weak seed fields in the early stages of the Universe to sub-equipartition fields, owing to the turbulent environment of feedback-dominated galaxies at high redshift, and are evolved further in a later stage up to equipartition, as galaxies transformed into more quiescent, large spiral disks.

MIGHTEE: The MeerKAT International GHz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration

The MeerKAT telescope is the precursor of the Square Kilometre Array mid-frequency dish array to be deployed later this decade on the African continent. MIGHTEE is one of the MeerKAT large survey projects designed to pathfind SKA key science in cosmology and galaxy evolution. Through a tiered radio continuum deep imaging project including several fields totaling 20 square degrees to microJy sensitivities and an ultra-deep image of a single 1 square degree field of view, MIGHTEE will explore dark matter and large scale structure, the evolution of galaxies, including AGN activity and star formation as a function of cosmic time and environment, the emergence and evolution of magnetic fields in galaxies, and the magnetic counter part to large scale structure of the universe.

Galactic winds and the origin of large-scale magnetic fields

Observations of dwarf galaxies suggest the presence of large-scale magnetic fields. However the size and slow rotation of these galaxies appear insufficient to support a mean-field dynamo action to excite such fields. Here we suggest a new mechanism to explain large-scale magnetic fields in galaxies that are too small to support mean-field dynamo action. The key idea is that we do not identify large-scale and mean magnetic fields. In our scenario the the magnetic structures originate from a small-scale dynamo which produces small-scale magnetic field in the galactic disc and a galactic wind that transports this field into the galactic halo where the large turbulent diffusion increases the scale and order of the field. As a result, the magnetic field becomes large-scale; however its mean value remains vanishing in a strict sense. We verify the idea by numerical modelling of two distinct simplified configurations, a thin disc model using the no-$z$ approximation, and an axisymmetric model using cylindrical $r,z$ coordinates. Each of these allows reduction of the problem to two spatial dimensions. Taken together, the models support the proposition that the general trends will persist in a fully 3D model. We demonstrate that a pronounced large-scale pattern can develop in the galactic halo for a wide choice of the dynamo governing parameters. We believe that our mechanism can be relevant to explaining the presence of the fields observed in the halos of dwarf galaxies. We emphasize that detailed modelling of the proposed scenario needs 3D simulations, and adjustment to the specific dynamo governing parameters of dwarf galaxies.

МАГНИТНЫЙ ДВИГАТЕЛЬ ДЛЯ КОСМОСА (ПОЛНАЯ ВЕРСИЯ)

Subject of interstellar flights remains actual taking into account limitedness of the terrestrial resources, overpopulation of the planet, and demographic, sociopolitical and ecological problems at the planet. A constructive solution is submitted of the construction of a spacecraft moving with acceleration resting upon electromagnetic fields of the Solar system and the Galaxy. Calculation of the current intensity within the circuit and charge value at the object's useful surface necessary for the achievement of acceleration equal to 1g at arbitrary direction in the space is conducted. A method of levitation in magnetic fields of planets (superposition of magnetic fields of a star and a planet) and interplanetary space (superposition of magnetic fields of galaxies) without using the Coulomb force is proposed.

The evolution of primordial magnetic fields since their generation

We study the evolution of primordial magnetic fields in an expanding cosmic plasma. For this purpose we present a comprehensive theoretical model to consider the evolution of MHD turbulence that can be used over a wide range of physical conditions, including cosmological and astrophysical applications. We model different types of decaying cosmic MHD turbulence in the expanding Universe and characterize the large-scale magnetic fields in such a medium. Direct numerical simulations of freely decaying MHD turbulence are performed for different magnetogenesis scenarios: magnetic fields generated during cosmic inflation as well as electroweak and QCD phase transitions in the early Universe. Magnetic fields and fluid motions are strongly coupled due to the high Reynolds number in the early Universe. Hence, we abandon the simple adiabatic dilution model to estimate magnetic field amplitudes in the expanding Universe and include turbulent mixing effects on the large-scale magnetic field evolution. Numerical simulations have been carried out for non-helical and helical magnetic field configurations. The numerical results show the possibility of inverse transfer of energy in magnetically dominated non-helical MHD turbulence. On the other hand, decay properties of helical turbulence depend on whether the turbulent magnetic field is in a weakly or a fully helical state. Our results show that primordial magnetic fields can be considered as a seed for the observed large-scale magnetic fields in galaxies and clusters. Bounds on the magnetic field strength are obtained and are consistent with the upper and lower limits set by observations of extragalactic magnetic fields.

Star-forming dwarf galaxies: the correlation between far-infrared and radio fluxes

The far-infrared - radio correlation connects star formation and magnetic fields in galaxies, and has been confirmed over a large range of far-infrared luminosities. Recent investigations indicate that it may even hold in the regime of local dwarf galaxies, and we explore here the expected behavior in the regime of star formation surface densities below 0.1 M_sun kpc^{-2} yr^{-1}. We derive two conditions that can be particularly relevant for inducing a change in the expected correlation: a critical star formation surface density to maintain the correlation between star formation rate and the magnetic field, and a critical star formation surface density below which cosmic ray diffusion losses dominate over their injection via supernova explosions. For rotation periods shorter than 1.5x10^7 (H/kpc)^2 yrs, with H the scale height of the disk, the first correlation will break down before diffusion losses are relevant, as higher star formation rates are required to maintain the correlation between star formation rate and magnetic field strength. For high star formation surface densities Sigma_SFR, we derive a characteristic scaling of the non-thermal radio to the far-infrared / infrared emission with Sigma_SFR^{1/3}, corresponding to a scaling of the non-thermal radio luminosity L_s with the infrared luminosity L_{th} as L_{th}^{4/3}. The latter is expected to change when the above processes are no longer steadily maintained. In the regime of long rotation periods, we expect a transition towards a steeper scaling with Sigma_SFR^{2/3}, implying L_s~L_th^{5/3}, while the regime of fast rotation is expected to show a considerably enhanced scatter. These scaling relations explain the increasing thermal fraction of the radio emission observed within local dwarfs, and can be tested with future observations by the SKA and its precursor radio telescopes.

Wavefronts of the magnetic field in galaxies: asymptotic and numerical approaches

Wavefronts of the magnetic field in galaxies: asymptotic and numerical approaches

Wavefronts of the magnetic field in galaxies: asymptotic and numerical approaches

Wavefronts of the magnetic field in galaxies: asymptotic and numerical approaches

Effective Perihelion Advance and Potentials in a Conformastatic Background with Magnetic Field

Exact solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell field equations for a conformastatic metric with magnetized sources are investigated. In this context, effective potentials are studied in order to understand the dynamics of the magnetic field in galaxies. We derive the equations of motion for neutral and charged particles in a spacetime background characterized by this class of solutions. In this particular case, we investigate the main physical properties of the equatorial circular orbits and related effective potentials. In addition, we obtain an effective analytic expression for the perihelion advance of test particles. Our theoretical predictions are compared with the observational data calibrated with the ephemerides of the planets of the solar system and the Moon (EPM2011). In general, we show that the magnetic punctual mass predicts values that are in better agreement with observations than the values predicted in Einstein’s gravity alone.

Magnetic fields in spiral galaxies

Radio synchrotron emission is a powerful tool to study the strength and structure of magnetic fields in galaxies. Unpolarized synchrotron emission traces isotropic turbulent fields which are strongest in spiral arms and bars (20-30 \mu G) and in central starburst regions (50-100 \mu G). Such fields are dynamically important; they affect gas flows and drive gas inflows in central regions. -- Polarized emission traces ordered fields, which can be regular or anisotropic turbulent, where the latter originates from isotropic turbulent fields by the action of compression or shear. The strongest ordered fields (10-15 \mu G) are generally found in interarm regions. In galaxies with strong density waves, ordered fields are also observed at the inner edges of spiral arms. Ordered fields with spiral patterns exist in grand-design, barred and flocculent galaxies, and in central regions. Ordered fields in interacting galaxies have asymmetric distributions and are a tracer of past interactions between galaxies or with the intergalactic medium. In radio halos around edge-on galaxies, ordered magnetic fields with X-shaped patterns are observed. -- Faraday rotation measures of the diffuse polarized radio emission from galaxy disks reveal large-scale spiral patterns that can be described by the superposition of azimuthal modes; these are signatures of regular fields generated by mean-field dynamos. "Magnetic arms" between gaseous spiral arms may also be products of dynamo action, but need a stable spiral pattern to develop. Helically twisted field loops winding around spiral arms were found in two galaxies so far. Large-scale field reversals, like the one found in the Milky Way, could not yet be detected in external galaxies. -- The origin and evolution of cosmic magnetic fields will be studied with forthcoming radio telescopes like the Square Kilometre Array.

A supernova scenario for magnetic fields and rotation measures in galaxies

AbstractWe present a model for the seeding and evolution of magnetic fields in galaxies by supernovae (SN). SN explosions during galaxy assembly provide seed fields, which are subsequently amplified by compression, shear flows and random motions. Our model explains the origin of μG magnetic fields within galactic structures. We implement our model in the MHD version of the cosmological simulation code Gadget-3 and couple it with a multi-phase description of the interstellar medium. We perform simulations of Milky Way-like galactic halo formation and analyze the distribution and strength of the magnetic field. We investigate the intrinsic rotation measure (RM) evolution and find RM values exceeding 1000 rad/m2 at high redshifts and RM values around 10 rad/m2 at present-day. We compare our simulations to a limited set of observational data points and find encouraging similarities. In our model, galactic magnetic fields are a natural consequence of the very basic processes of star formation and galaxy assembly.

Star Formation and Galaxy Dynamo Equations with Random Coefficients

Abstract We study the influence of star formation on magnetic field in galaxies. Two approaches have been used to describe this mechanism. The first one uses some averaged approximate kinematic characteristics that appear in the galactic dynamo equations. We use the so-called no-z model that takes into account the fact that galactic disks are quite thin and hence we can consider only the field components that are parallel to the plane of the galaxy. We also use the equation that describes the evolution of magnetic helicity, which can be important for galaxies with intensive star formation. The second approach uses the dynamo equations with random coefficients, which are useful for describing magnetic fields in galaxies with rapidly changing kinematic parameters. Both methods yield similar results: if the surface star formation rate is small, the magnetic field evolution does not change very much. If the surface star formation rate is more than five times higher than in the Milky Way, the field decays.

Galactic magnetic fields and hierarchical galaxy formation

A framework is introduced for coupling the evolution of galactic magnetic fields sustained by the mean-field dynamo with the formation and evolution of galaxies in cold dark matter cosmology. Estimates of the steady-state strength of the large-scale and turbulent magnetic fields from mean-field and fluctuation dynamo models are used together with galaxy properties predicted by semi-analytic models of galaxy formation for a population of spiral galaxies. We find that the field strength is mostly controlled by the evolving gas content of the galaxies. Thus, because of the differences in the implementation of the star formation law, feedback from supernovae and ram-pressure stripping, each of the galaxy formation models considered predicts a distribution of field strengths with unique features. The most prominent of them is the difference in typical magnetic fields strengths obtained for the satellite and central galaxy populations as well as the typical strength of the large-scale magnetic field in galaxies of different mass.

Exact Relativistic Magnetized Haloes around Rotating Disks

The study of the dynamics of magnetic fields in galaxies is one of important problems in formation and evolution of galaxies. In this paper, we present the exact relativistic treatment of a rotating disk surrounded by a magnetized material halo. The features of the halo and disk are described by the distributional energy-momentum tensor of a general fluid in canonical form. All the relevant quantities and the metric and electromagnetic potentials are exactly determined by an arbitrary harmonic function only. For instance, the generalized Kuzmin-disk potential is used. The particular class of solutions obtained is asymptotically flat and satisfies all the energy conditions. Moreover, the motion of a charged particle on the halo is described. As far as we know, this is the first relativistic model describing analytically the magnetized halo of a rotating disk.

X-ray emission from star-forming galaxies – signatures of cosmic rays and magnetic fields

The evolution of magnetic fields in galaxies is still an open problem in astrophysics. In nearby galaxies the far-infrared-radio correlation indicates the coupling between magnetic fields and star formation. The correlation arises from the synchrotron emission of cosmic ray electrons traveling through the interstellar magnetic fields. However, with an increase of the interstellar radiation field (ISRF), inverse Compton scattering becomes the dominant energy loss mechanism of cosmic ray electrons with a typical emission frequency in the X-ray regime. The ISRF depends on the one hand on the star formation rate and becomes stronger in starburst galaxies, and on the other hand increases with redshift due to the evolution of the cosmic microwave background. With a model for the star formation rate of galaxies, the ISRF, and the cosmic ray spectrum, we can calculate the expected X-ray luminosity resulting from the inverse Compton emission. Except for galaxies with an active galactic nucleus the main additional contribution to the X-ray luminosity comes from X-ray binaries. We estimate this contribution with an analytical model as well as with an observational relation, and compare it to the pure inverse Compton luminosity. Using data from the Chandra Deep Field Survey and far-infrared observations from ALMA we then determine upper limits for the cosmic ray energy. Assuming that the magnetic energy in a galaxy is in equipartition with the energy density of the cosmic rays, we obtain upper limits for the magnetic field strength. Our results suggest that the mean magnetic energy of young galaxies is similar to the one in local galaxies. This points toward an early generation of galactic magnetic fields, which is in agreement with current dynamo evolution models.

Self-calibration of BICEP1 three-year data and constraints on astrophysical polarization rotation

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarimeters aspire to measure the faint $B$-mode signature predicted to arise from inflationary gravitational waves. They also have the potential to constrain cosmic birefringence which would produce non-zero expectation values for the CMB's $TB$ and $EB$ spectra. However, instrumental systematic effects can also cause these $TB$ and $EB$ correlations to be non-zero. In particular, an overall miscalibration of the polarization orientation of the detectors produces $TB$ and $EB$ spectra which are degenerate with isotropic cosmological birefringence, while also introducing a small but predictable bias on the $BB$ spectrum. The \bicep three-year spectra, which use our standard calibration of detector polarization angles from a dielectric sheet, are consistent with a polarization rotation of $\alpha = -2.77^\circ \pm 0.86^\circ \text{(statistical)} \pm 1.3^\circ \text{(systematic)}$. We revise the estimate of systematic error on the polarization rotation angle from the two-year analysis by comparing multiple calibration methods. We investigate the polarization rotation for the \bicep 100 GHz and 150 GHz bands separately to investigate theoretical models that produce frequency-dependent cosmic birefringence. We find no evidence in the data supporting either these models or Faraday rotation of the CMB polarization by the Milky Way galaxy's magnetic field. If we assume that there is no cosmic birefringence, we can use the $TB$ and $EB$ spectra to calibrate detector polarization orientations, thus reducing bias of the cosmological $B$-mode spectrum from leaked $E$-modes due to possible polarization orientation miscalibration. After applying this "self-calibration" process, we find that the upper limit on the tensor-to-scalar ratio decreases slightly, from $r<0.70$ to $r<0.65$ at $95\%$ confidence.

Asymptotics of the spectrum and eigenfunctions of the magnetic induction operator on a compact two-dimensional surface of revolution

Magnetic fields in conducting liquids (in particular, magnetic fields of galaxies, stars, and planets) are described by the magnetic induction operator. In this paper, we study the spectrum and eigenfunctions of this operator on a compact two-dimensional surface of revolution. For large magnetic Reynolds numbers, the asymptotics of the spectrum is studied; equations defining the eigenvalues (quantization conditions) are obtained; and examples of spectral graphs near which these points are located are given. The spatial structure of the eigenfunctions is studied.

Polarized synchrotron radiation from the Andromeda galaxy M 31 and background sources at 350 MHz

Polarization measurements at low radio frequencies allow detection of small Faraday rotation measures caused by regular magnetic fields in galaxies and in the foreground of the Milky Way. The galaxy M31 was observed in two overlapping pointings with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) resulting in ~4' resolution in total intensity and linearly polarized emission. The frequency range 310-376 MHz was covered by 1024 channels which allowed the application of RM synthesis. We derived a data cube in Faraday depth and compared two symmetric ranges of negative and positive Faraday depths. This new method avoids the range of high instrumental polarization and allows the detection of very low degrees of polarization. For the first time, diffuse polarized emission from a nearby galaxy is detected below 1 GHz. The degree of polarization is only 0.21 +/- 0.05 %, consistent with extrapolation of internal depolarization from data at higher radio frequency. A catalogue of 33 polarized sources and their Faraday rotation in the M31 field is presented. Their average depolarization is DP(90,20) = 0.14 +/- 0.02, 7 times stronger depolarized than at 1.4 GHz. We argue that this strong depolarization originates within the sources, e.g. in their radio lobes, or in intervening galaxies on the line of sight. On the other hand, the Faraday rotation of the sources is mostly produced in the foreground of the Milky Way and varies significantly across the ~9 square degree M31 field. As expected, polarized emission from M31 and extragalactic background sources is much weaker at low frequencies compared to the GHz range. Future observations with LOFAR, with high sensitivity and high angular resolution to reduce depolarization, may reveal diffuse polarization from the outer disks and halos of galaxies.

Galactic dynamo with helicity fluxes

We construct an approximation for the magnetic field of galaxies that takes into account the magnetic helicity conservation law. In our calculations, we use the fact that the galactic disk is fairly thin and, therefore, the magnetic field component perpendicular to the galactic disk can be neglected (the so-called no-z approximation). However, an averaging of the magnetic field over the entire galaxy, as was done in previous works, is not performed. Our results are compared both with the approximation that disregards the helicity flux and with the results obtained in models with helicity fluxes but without averaging. We show that, compared to the classical model, there are a number of new effects (for example, magnetic field oscillations) and, compared to the model with averaging, the behavior of the magnetic field “softens”: its stationary value is reached more slowly and the oscillation amplitude decreases. This is because the dissipative processes changing the magnetic field growth rate are taken into account in our model. In contrast to the model with averaging, here it becomes possible to construct the dependence of the magnetic field and helicity on the distance from the galactic center.

THE INTERPRETATION OF ROTATION MEASURES IN THE PRESENCE OF INHOMOGENEOUS FOREGROUND SCREENS

We analyze the redshift evolution of the Rotation Measure (RM) in Taylor et al. (2009) dataset, which is based on NVSS radio data at 21 cm, and compare with results from our previous work (Kronberg et al. (2008), Bernet et al. (2008),(2010)), based on RMs determined at lower wavelengths, e.g. 6 cm. We find that, in spite of the same analysis, Taylor's dataset produces neither an increase of the RM dispersion with redshift as found in Kronberg et al. (2008), nor the correlation of RM strength with MgII absorption lines found in Bernet et al. (2008). We develop a simple model to understand the discrepancy. The model assumes that the Faraday Rotators, namely the QSO's host galaxy and the intervening MgII host galaxies along the line of sight, contain partially inhomogeneous RM screens. We find that this leads to an increasing depolarization towards longer wavelengths and to wavelength dependent RM values. In particular, due to cosmological redshift, observations at fixed wavelength of sources at different redshift are affected differently by depolarization and are sensitive to different Faraday active components. For example, at 21 cm the polarized signal is averaged out by inhomogeneous Faraday screens and the measured RM mostly reflects the Milky Way contributions for low redshift QSOs, while polarization is relatively unaffected for high redshift QSOs. Similar effects are produced by intervening galaxies acting as inhomogeneous screens. Finally, we assess the performance of Rotation Measure synthesis on our synthetic models and conclude that the study of magnetic fields in galaxies as a function of cosmic time will benefit considerably from the application of such a technique, provided enough instrumental bandwidth. For this purpose, high frequency channels appear preferable but not strictly necessary.