The magnetic field in the dust ring at the center of the Galaxy

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169248· OSTI ID:6315894

Hildebrand, R H; Gonatas, D P; Platt, S R; Wu, X D; Davidson, J A; Werner, M W ^[1]

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1. Chicago Univ., IL (USA) NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (USA)

Measurements of the polarization of the far-infrared thermal emission from six points in the dust ring at Sgr A are presented. The position angles are approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the ring as projected on the sky. The inferred magnetic field is therefore approximately in the plane of the ring. The pattern traced by the polarization vectors resembles that expected for a magnetic accretion disk. The measurements indicate a field in which the outward radial component is much greater than the axial component at the surface of the disk. The field thus appears to satisfy the condition proposed by Blandford and Payne (1982) for removing energy and angular momentum through centrifugal acceleration of surface material moving along the field lines. 31 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6315894
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Vol. 362; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
GALAXY NUCLEI
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
MILKY WAY
ACCRETION DISKS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
COSMIC DUST
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
POLARIZATION
RINGS
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GALAXIES
INFRARED RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
RADIATIONS
SPACE
640105* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Galaxies