Magnetic fields in spiral galaxies

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.45500· OSTI ID:6904521

Beck, R ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck Institut fur Radiostronomie, Auf dem Hugel 69, Bonn 1 (DE)

Radio polarization observations have revealed large-scale magnetic fields in spiral galaxies. The average total field strength most probably increases with the rate of star formation. The uniform field generally follows the orientation of the optical spiral arms, but is often strongest {ital outside} the arms. Long magnetic-field filaments are seen, sometimes up to a 30 kpc length. The field seems to be anchored in large gas clouds and is inflated out of the disk; e.g., by a galactic wind. The field in radio halos around galaxies is highly uniform in limited regions, resembling the structure of the solar corona. The detection of Faraday rotation in spiral galaxies excludes the existence of large amounts of antimatter. The distribution of Faraday rotation in the disks shows two different large-scale structures of the interstellar field: Axisymmetric-spiral and bisymmetric-spiral, which are interpreted as two modes of the galactic dynamo driven by differential rotation.

• OSTI ID: 6904521
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) Vol. 18:1; ISSN 0093-3813; ISSN ITPSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
CONFIGURATION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CURRENTS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
FARADAY CURRENT
GALAXIES
INTERSTELLAR MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MOTION
PLASMA FILAMENT
RADIO GALAXIES
ROTATION
SOLAR CORONA
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
STAR EVOLUTION
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE