Radio Observations of the Magnetic Fields in Galaxies

Abstract

After a short introduction on how we get information of the magnetic fields from radio observations I discuss the results concerning the magnetic field structure in galaxies: Large-scale regular magnetic field pattern of spiral structure exist in grand-design spirals, flocculent and even irregular galaxies. The regular field in spirals is aligned along the optical spiral arms but strongest in the interarm region, sometimes forming 'magnetic arms'. The strongest total field is found in the optical arms, but mainly irregular. The large-scale regular field is best explained by some kind of dynamo action. Only a few galaxies show a dominant axisymmetric field pattern, most field structures seem to be a superposition of different dynamo modes or rather reveal more local effects related to density waves, bars or shocks. Observations of edge-on galaxies show that the magnetic fields are mainly parallel to the disk except in some galaxies with strong star formation and strong galactic winds as e.g. NGC 4631.Comment: 9 pages with 4 figures. To be published in Acta Astronomica Sinica Vol. 44, 2003 (Conf. Proc. "Radio Studies of Galactic Objects, Galaxies and AGNs", eds. J.L. Han et al.). Final published version also available at http://www.bao.ac.cn/bao/hjl/xian/proceedings