Magnetic Field In NGC Research Articles

Large-scale magnetic field structure of NGC 3627 based on a magnetic vector map

Abstract We analyzed the data of Stokes I, Q, and U in the C and X bands and investigated the large-scale magnetic field structure of NGC 3627. The polarization intensity and angle in each band were derived using Stokes Q and U maps. The rotation measure was calculated using polarization angle maps. Moreover, the magnetic field strength was calculated by assuming energy equipartition with cosmic ray electrons. The structure of the magnetic field was well aligned with the spiral arms, which were consistent with those in the former studies. We applied the magnetic vector reconstruction method to NGC 3627 to derive a magnetic vector map, which showed that the northern and southern disks were dominant with inward and outward magnetic vectors, respectively. Furthermore, we considered the large-scale structure of the magnetic field in NGC 3627 and observed that the structure is bi-symmetric spiral in nature, and that the number of magnetic field modes is mB = 1 in the outer region of galaxy. In addition, NGC 3627 has a mode of two spiral arms that were clearly visible in an optical image. The ratio of the mode of the spiral arms to that of the magnetic field is 2 : 1. In terms of NGC 3627, the large-scale magnetic field may be generated via the parametric resonance induced by the gravitational potential of the spiral arms.

3D Study Of Magnetic Fields In NGC 6946

AbstractRecent advancements in both radio observatories and computing have opened a new regime of 3D observations. Not only do these instruments measure emission lines and radio continuum over much larger bandpasses, but they also simultaneously observe the polarized emission over the same large bandpasses with increased sensitivity. This “polarization spectrum" can be used to recover information about the 3D structure of magnetic fields in the universe. Our combined 3-20~cm observations of NGC 6946 taken with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope provide highly sensitive diagnostics of the internal depolarization across the galaxy. We use model fitting to determine likely mechanisms for depolarization in different regions of the galaxy, and glean information about the coherent and turbulent magnetic fields in NGC 6946. We produce Faraday dispersion maps that illustrate how we can probe different depths into the galaxy at different wavelengths and display new features of the line of sight magnetic field. This work is just a sample of the new 3D studies that are possible with upgraded and new radio instruments like the VLA, ATCA, and SKA.

THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF THE IRREGULAR GALAXY NGC 4214

We examine the magnetic field in NGC 4214, a nearby irregular galaxy, using multi-wavelength radio continuum polarization data from the Very Large Array. We find that the global radio continuum spectrum shows signs that free-free absorption and/or synchrotron losses may be important. The 3cm radio continuum morphology is similar to that of the Halpha, while the 20cm emission is more diffuse. We estimate that 50% of the radio continuum emission in the center of the galaxy is thermal. Our estimate of the magnetic field strength is $30\pm 9.5$ \uG\ in the center and $10\pm3$ \uG\ at the edges. We find that the hot gas, magnetic, and the gravitational pressures are all the same order of magnitude. Inside the central star forming regions, we find that the thermal and turbulent pressures of the HII regions dominate the pressure balance. We do not detect any significant polarization on size scales greater than 200 pc. We place an upper limit of 8 \uG\ on the uniform field strength in this galaxy. We suggest that the diffuse synchrotron region, seen to the north of the main body of emission at 20cm, is elongated due to a uniform magnetic field with a maximum field strength of 7.6 \uG. We find that, while the shear in NGC 4214 is comparable to that of the Milky Way, the supernova rate is half that of the Milky Way and suggest that the star formation episode in NGC 4214 needs additional time to build up enough turbulence to drive an $\alpha-\omega$ dynamo.

THE ROLE OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM OF THE POST-STARBURST DWARF IRREGULAR GALAXY NGC 1569

(abridged) NGC 1569 is a nearby dwarf irregular galaxy which underwent an intense burst of star formation 10 to 40 Myr ago. We present observations that reach surface brightnesses two to eighty times fainter than previous radio continuum observations and the first radio continuum polarization observations. These observations allow us to probe the relationship of the magnetic field of NGC 1569 to the rest of its interstellar medium. We confirm the presence of an extended radio continuum halo at 20 cm and see for the first time the radio continuum feature associated with the western Halpha arm at wavelengths shorter than 20cm. The spectral index trends in this galaxy support the theory that there is a convective wind at work in this galaxy. We derive a total magnetic field strength of 38 microG in the central regions and 10-15 microG in the halo. The magnetic field is largely random in the center of the galaxy; the uniform field is ~3-9 microG and is strongest in the halo. We find that the magnetic pressure is the same order of magnitude but, in general, a factor of a few less than the other components of the interstellar medium in this galaxy. The uniform magnetic field in NGC 1569 is closely associated with the Halpha bubbles and filaments. We suggest that a supernova-driven dynamo may be operating in this galaxy. The outflow of hot gas from NGC 1569 is clearly shaping the magnetic field, but the magnetic field in turn may be aiding the outflow by channeling gas out of the disk of the galaxy. Dwarf galaxies with extended radio continuum halos like that of NGC 1569 may play an important role in magnetizing the intergalactic medium.

Magnetic fields of AGNs and standard accretion disk model: testing by optical polarimetry

We have developed the method that allows us to estimate the magnetic field strength at the horizon of a supermassive black hole (SMBH) through the observed polarization of optical emission of the accreting disk surrounding SMBH. The known asymptotic formulae for the Stokes parameters of outgoing radiation are azimuthal averaged, which corresponds to an observation of the disk as a whole. We consider two models of the embedding 3D-magnetic field, the regular field, and the regular field with an additional chaotic (turbulent) component. It is shown that the second model is preferable for estimating the magnetic field in NGC 4258. For estimations we used the standard accretion disk model assuming that the same power-law dependence of the magnetic field follows from the range of the optical emission down to the horizon. The observed optical polarization from NGC 4258 allowed us to find the values 10^3 - 10^4 Gauss at the horizon, depending on the particular choice of the model parameters. We also discuss the wavelength dependencies of the light polarization, and possibly applying them for a more realistic choice of accretion disk parameters.

Are rotation curves in NGC 6946 and the Milky Way magnetically supported?

AbstractThe inner disk rotation of NGC 6946 and the Milky Way is dominated by gravity but magnetism is not negligible at radii where the rotation curve becomes flat, and indeed could become dominant at very large radii. Values of the order of 1 μG, or even less, produce a centripetal force when the absolute value of the slope of the curve [B φ , R ] (azimuthal field strength versus radius) is less than the slope of a B φ ‐profile proportional to R –1. The ∝ R –1‐profile is here called the critical profile. From the hypothesis of magnetically driven rotation curves, the following is to be expected: at large radii, a “subcritical” profile (slope flatter than R –1); at still larger radii a B φ ‐profile becoming asymptotically critical as the density becomes asymptotically vanishing. Recent observations of magnetic fields in NGC 6946 and the Milky Way are in very good agreement with these predictions. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Early Results from SPARO: Instrument Characterization and Polarimetry of NGC 6334

ABSTRACTThe Submillimeter Polarimeter for Antarctic Remote Observations (SPARO) employs two nine‐element arrays of 3He‐cooled bolometers to measure linear polarization at λ = 450 μm. It is operated at the focal plane of the Viper telescope, located at the Amundsen‐Scott South Pole Station. SPARO obtains better sensitivity to degree‐scale polarized submillimeter emission than can be currently achieved with any other experiment. We describe the design of SPARO’s optics, detectors, and electronics. We also review the design of the SPARO cryostat, which has already been discussed in a previous paper. We discuss the performance of SPARO and Viper during observations at the South Pole in 2000, and we present polarimetric observations of NGC 6334 made with SPARO. Finally, we compare these observations with submillimeter polarimetric observations of the same source made at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, and we discuss the implications of these three data sets for the magnetic field in NGC 6334.

OH masers, molecular outflows and magnetic fields in NGC 7538

The multi-element radio-linked interferometer network (MERLIN) measurements of 1665-, 1667- and 1720-MHz OH masers associated with NGC 7538 are presented. The masers are located at the centres of three bipolar molecular outflows associated with the infrared sources IRS 1, IRS 9 and IRS 11. The distribution of OH masers in IRS 1 is more extensive than previously reported and is displaced to the south of the methanol 6.7-GHz masers. The OH masers in IRS 9 have not previously been reported. Their distribution seems to be orthogonal to the direction of the outflow and to the distribution of H2O masers. The maser distribution in IRS 11 is parallel to the dust ridge and orthogonal to the outflow. Full polarization measurements of the OH maser emission show systematic differences between the three sources. IRS 1 has moderate polarization, with linear polarization vectors partially aligned with the bipolar outflow; IRS 9 exhibits larger polarization, but little linear component; IRS 11 shows the strongest polarization and has linear polarization vectors aligned parallel to the outflow. There is also evidence for a toroidal component of the magnetic field around the IRS 11 outflow, orthogonal to the outflow direction. It is suggested that the differences in polarization trace a possible evolutionary sequence from oldest (IRS 1) to youngest (IRS 11).

Modeling the generation of the magnetic field in NGC 5775

A model for the generation of large-scale magnetic fields is constructed for the galaxy NGC 5775, in which the magnetic field has the form of a dipolar dynamo wave propagating along the galactic disk. The excitation of such a mode, which is unusual for galactic dynamos, can be explained by the strong variation of the galactic rotation with height above the plane of symmetry of the galactic disk.

Modeling Polarization Maps of External Galaxies.

We extend previous radiation transfer models of disk galaxies to include bulge plus disk systems. The Monte Carlo radiation transfer models include the polarizing effects of dust scattering and transmission through aligned grains. We assume that the dust grains are aligned by large scale toroidal magnetic fields and we model the interstellar polarization using empirical formulae derived for the Milky Way. Although our galaxy models do not include dust or star inhomogeneities arising from clumping or spiral arm structures, they do successfully reproduce the observed dust lanes and polarization patterns and null points. We apply our techniques to NGC 4565 and NGC 891 which are examples of nearly edge-on spiral galaxies with prominent dust lanes. We can successfully model the polarimetric structure of NGC 4565 with uniformly aligned grains and a smooth dust lane. However, our models fail to reproduce the structure within NGC 891's dust lane. This failure is attributed to the striking disk activity present in NGC 891 and the polarimetric evidence for vertical magnetic field structures. The dust lane activity and non-toroidal magnetic fields in NGC 891 appear to break the large scale grain alignment to such an extent that our smooth model is unable to reproduce the flux and polarization maps. Although NGC 891 is often assumed to be very similar to our own Galaxy, our modeling suggests that, polarimetrically at least, NGC 4565 behaves more like the Milky Way than does NGC 891.