1,083 research outputs found
Cosmic-ray driven dynamo in the medium of irregular galaxy
We investigate the cosmic ray driven dynamo in the interstellar medium of
irregular galaxy. The observations (Chyzy et al. 2000, 2003) show that the
magnetic field in irregular galaxies is present and its value reaches the same
level as in spiral galaxies. However the conditions in the medium of irregular
galaxy are very unfavorable for amplification the magnetic field due to slow
rotation and low shearing rate.
In this work we present numerical model of the interstellar medium in
irregular galaxies. The model includes magnetohydrodynamical dynamo driven by
cosmic rays in the interstellar medium provided by random supernova explosions.
We describe models characterized by different shear and rotation. We find that
even slow galactic rotation with low shearing rate gives amplification of the
magnetic field. Simulations have shown that high amount of the magnetic energy
flow out off the simulation region becoming an efficient source of
intergalactic magnetic fields.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, To be published in "Cosmic Magnetic Fields: From
Planets, to Stars and Galaxies", K.G. Strassmeier, A.G. Kosovichev & J.E.
Beckman, eds., Proc. IAU Symp. 259, CU
The magnetic fields of large Virgo cluster spirals: Paper II
The Virgo cluster of galaxies provides excellent conditions for studying
interactions of galaxies with the cluster environment. Both the high-velocity
tidal interactions and effects of ram pressure stripping by the intracluster
gas can be investigated in detail. We extend our systematic search for possible
anomalies in the magnetic field structures of Virgo cluster spirals in order to
characterize a variety of effects and attribute them to different disturbing
agents. Six angularly large Virgo cluster spiral galaxies (NGC4192, NGC4302,
NGC4303, NGC4321, NGC4388, and NGC4535) were targets of a sensitive total power
and polarization study using the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg at 4.85GHz
and 8.35GHz (except for NGC4388 observed only at 4.85GHz, and NGC4535 observed
only at 8.35GHz). Magnetic field structures distorted to various extent are
found in all galaxies. Three galaxies (NGC4302, NGC4303, and NGC4321) show some
signs of possible tidal interactions, while NGC4388 and NGC4535 have very
likely experienced strong ram-pressure and shearing effects, respectively,
visible as distortions and asymmetries of polarized intensity distributions. As
in our previous study, even strongly perturbed galaxies closely follow the
radio-far-infrared correlation. In NGC4303 and NGC4321, we observe symmetric
spiral patterns of the magnetic field and in NGC4535 an asymmetric pattern.
Magnetic fields allow us to trace even weak interactions that are difficult to
detect with other observations. Our results show that the degree of distortions
of a galaxy is not a simple function of the distance to the cluster center but
reflects also the history of its interactions. The angle between the velocity
vector and the rotation vector of a galaxy may be a general parameter that
describes the level of distortions of galactic magnetic fields.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
3D model of magnetic fields evolution in dwarf irregular galaxies
Radio observations show that magnetic fields are present in dwarf irregular
galaxies (dIrr) and its strength is comparable to that found in spiral
galaxies. Slow rotation, weak shear and shallow gravitational potential are the
main features of a typical dIrr galaxy. These conditions of the interstellar
medium in a dIrr galaxy seem to unfavourable for amplification of the magnetic
field through the dynamo process. Cosmic-ray driven dynamo is one of the
galactic dynamo model, which has been successfully tested in case of the spiral
galaxies. We investigate this dynamo model in the ISM of a dIrr galaxy. We
study its efficiency under the influence of slow rotation, weak shear and
shallow gravitational potential. Additionally, the exploding supernovae are
parametrised by the frequency of star formation and its modulation, to
reproduce bursts and quiescent phases. We found that even slow galactic
rotation with a low shearing rate amplifies the magnetic field, and that rapid
rotation with a low value of the shear enhances the efficiency of the dynamo.
Our simulations have shown that a high amount of magnetic energy leaves the
simulation box becoming an efficient source of intergalactic magnetic fields.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Proceedings of IAU Symp. 274,
Advances in Plasma Astrophysics, ed. A. Bonanno, E. de Gouveia dal Pino and
A. Kosoviche
Radio observations of the Milky Way from the classroom
We present the project to introduce the first European network of radio telescopes for education. It enables pupils to detect spectral line emission of neutral hydrogen in the Milky Way at a wavelength of 21 cm. Any classroom connected to Internet via any web-browser can remotely control one of the radio-telescopes, observe and analyse obtained spectra: derive the Milky-Way rotation curve and recognise spiral arms in hydrogen distribution. Doing exercises pupils, guided by their teachers, learn the basics of radio astronomy research, use scientific method to explore and interpret the attained spectral data. A range of attractive educational materials are prepared to help in disseminating the scientific knowledge in the classroom and demonstrate the modern information technology
Deep Radio Continuum Imaging of the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy IC10: Tracing Star Formation and Magnetic Fields
We exploit the vastly increased sensitivity of the Expanded Very Large Array
(EVLA) to study the radio continuum and polarization properties of the
post-starburst, dwarf irregular galaxy IC10 at 6 cm, at a linear resolution of
~50 pc. We find close agreement between radio continuum and Halpha emission,
from the brightest HII regions to the weaker emission in the disk. A
quantitative analysis shows a strictly linear correlation, where the thermal
component contributes 50% to the total radio emission, the remainder being due
to a non-thermal component with a surprisingly steep radio spectral index of
between -0.7 and -1.0 suggesting substantial radiation losses of the cosmic-ray
electrons. We confirm and clearly resolve polarized emission at the 10-20%
level associated with a non-thermal superbubble, where the ordered magnetic
field is possibly enhanced due to the compression of the expanding bubble. A
fraction of the cosmic-ray electrons has likely escaped because the measured
radio emission is a factor of 3 lower than what is suggested by the Halpha
inferred SFR.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in the EVLA Special
Issue of ApJ Letter
Tidal interaction vs. ram pressure stripping effects as seen in X-rays. Hot gas in group and cluster galaxies
The hot intracluster/intragroup medium (ICM/IGM) and a high galaxy density
can lead to perturbations of the galactic interstellar medium (ISM) due to ram
pressure and/or tidal interaction effects. In radio polarimetry observations,
both phenomena may manifest similar features. X-ray data can help to determine
the real origin of the perturbation. We analyse the distribution and physical
properties of the hot gas in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxies NGC 4254 and NGC
4569, which indicate that the cluster environment has had a significant
influence on their properties. By performing both spatial and spectral analyses
of X-ray data, we try to distinguish between two major phenomena: tidal and ram
pressure interactions. We compare our findings with the case of NGC 2276, in
which a shock was reported, by analysing XMM-Newton X-ray data for this galaxy.
We use archival XMM-Newton observations of NGC 4254, NGC 4569, and NGC 2276.
Maps of the soft diffuse emission in the energy band 0.2 - 1 keV are obtained.
For the three galaxies, especially at the position of magnetic field
enhancements we perform a spectral analysis to derive gas temperatures and thus
to look for shock signatures. A shock is a signature of ram pressure resulting
from supersonic velocities; weak tidal interactions are not expected to
influence the temperature of the ionized gas. In NGC 4254, we do not observe
any temperature increase. This suggests tidal interactions rather than ram
pressure stripping. In NGC 4569 the radio polarized ridge shows a higher
temperature, which may indicate ram-pressure effects. For NGC 2276, we do not
find clear indications of a shock. The main driver of the observed distortions
is most likely tidal interaction. Determining gas temperatures via sensitive
X-ray observations seems to be a good method for distinguishing between ram
pressure and tidal interaction effects acting upon a galaxy.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, 8 tables, Accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysic
NGC 4654: polarized radio continuum emission as a diagnostic tool for a galaxy--cluster interaction
A recent comparison between deep VLA HI observations and dynamical models of
the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4654 has shown that only a model involving
a combination of a tidal interaction and ram pressure can reproduce the data.
Deep radio polarization studies, together with detailed MHD modeling, can
independently verify those conclusions, that are based on HI observations and
dynamical models. We performed deep polarized radio-continuum observations of
the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4654 with the Effelsberg 100m telescope at
8.35 GHz and the VLA at 4.85 GHz. Detailed 3D MHD simulations were made to
determine the large-scale magnetic field and the emission distribution of the
polarized radio continuum in the model, during the galaxy evolution within the
cluster environment. This direct comparison between the observed and simulated
polarized radio continuum emission corroborates the earlier results, that the
galaxy had a recent rapid close encounter with NGC 4639 and is undergoing weak
ram pressure by the intracluster medium. This combination of deep radio
polarization studies and detailed MHD modeling thus gives us unique insight
into the interactions of a galaxy with its cluster environment. It represents a
diagnostic tool that is complementary to deep HI observations.Comment: Corrected galaxy name in captions of figures (1 & 2
Discovery of a strong spiral magnetic field crossing the inner pseudoring of NGC 4736
We report the discovery of a coherent magnetic spiral structure within the
nearby ringed Sab galaxy NGC 4736. High sensitivity radio polarimetric data
obtained with the VLA at 8.46GHz and 4.86GHz show a distinct ring of total
radio emission precisely corresponding to the bright inner pseudoring visible
in other wavelengths. However, unlike the total radio emission, the polarized
radio emission reveals a clear pattern of ordered magnetic field of spiral
shape, emerging from the galactic centre. The magnetic vectors do not follow
the tightly-wrapped spiral arms that characterize the inner pseudoring, but
instead cross the ring with a constant and large pitch angle of about 35deg.
The ordered field is thus not local adjusted to the pattern of star-formation
activity, unlike what is usually observed in grand-design spirals. The observed
asymmetric distribution of Faraday rotation suggests the possible action of a
large-scale MHD dynamo. The strong magnetic total and regular field within the
ring (up to 30microG and 13microG, respectively) indicates that a highly
efficient process of magnetic field amplification is under way, probably
related to secular evolutionary processes in the galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, 5
pages, 5 color figure
Modeling the total and polarized emission in evolving galaxies: "spotty" magnetic structures
Future radio observations with the SKA and its precursors will be sensitive
to trace spiral galaxies and their magnetic field configurations up to redshift
. We suggest an evolutionary model for the magnetic configuration in
star-forming disk galaxies and simulate the magnetic field distribution, the
total and polarized synchrotron emission, and the Faraday rotation measures for
disk galaxies at z\la 3. Since details of dynamo action in young galaxies are
quite uncertain, we model the dynamo action heuristically relying only on
well-established ideas of the form and evolution of magnetic fields produced by
the mean-field dynamo in a thin disk. We assume a small-scale seed field which
is then amplified by the small-scale turbulent dynamo up to energy
equipartition with kinetic energy of turbulence. The large-scale galactic
dynamo starts from seed fields of 100 pc and an averaged regular field strength
of 0.02\,G, which then evolves to a "spotty" magnetic field configuration
in about 0.8\,Gyr with scales of about one kpc and an averaged regular field
strength of 0.6\,G. The evolution of these magnetic spots is simulated
under the influence of star formation, dynamo action, stretching by
differential rotation of the disk, and turbulent diffusion. The evolution of
the regular magnetic field in a disk of a spiral galaxy, as well as the
expected total intensity, linear polarization and Faraday rotation are
simulated in the rest frame of a galaxy at 5\,GHz and 150\,MHz and in the rest
frame of the observer at 150\,MHz. We present the corresponding maps for
several epochs after disk formation. (abridged)Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, revised version is accepted for
publication in Astronomische Nachrichte
Seeking large-scale magnetic fields in a pure-disk dwarf galaxy NGC 2976
It is still unknown how magnetic field-generation mechanisms could operate in
low-mass dwarf galaxies. Here, we present a detailed study of a nearby
pure-disk dwarf galaxy NGC 2976. Unlike previously observed dwarf objects, this
galaxy possesses a clearly defined disk. For the purpose of our studies, we
performed deep multi-frequency polarimetric observations of NGC 2976 with the
VLA and Effelsberg radio telescopes. Additionally, we supplement them with
re-imaged data from the WSRT-SINGS survey. The magnetic field morphology
discovered in NGC 2976 consists of a southern polarized ridge. This structure
does not seem to be due to just a pure large-scale dynamo process (possibly
cosmic-ray driven) at work in this object, as indicated by the RM data and
dynamo number calculations. Instead, the field of NGC 2976 is modified by past
gravitational interactions and possibly also by ram pressure inside the M 81
galaxy group environment. The estimates of total (7 muG) and ordered (3 muG)
magnetic field strengths, as well as degree of field order (0.46), which is
similar to those observed in spirals, suggest that tidally generated magnetized
gas flows can further enhance dynamo action in the object. NGC 2976 is
apparently a good candidate for the efficient magnetization of its
neighbourhood. It is able to provide an ordered (perhaps also regular) magnetic
field into the intergalactic space up to a distance of about 5 kpc. Tidal
interactions (and possibly also ram pressure) can lead to the formation of
unusual magnetic field morphologies (like polarized ridges) in galaxies out of
the star-forming disks, which do not follow any observed component of the
interstellar medium (ISM), as observed in NGC 2976. These galaxies are able to
provide ordered magnetic fields far out of their main disks.Comment: 16 page
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