Galactic magnetic fields, from radio polarimetry of the WIM

Abstract

Multi-frequency radio polarimetry of the diffuse Galactic synchrotron background gives new viewpoints on the Galactic magnetic field. Rotation measure maps reveal magnetic structures on arcminute to degree scales, such as a ring in polarization that we interpret as a magnetic tunnel. A complication using this technique is depolarization across the beam and along the line of sight. The influence of beam depolarization has been estimated using numerical models of the magneto-ionic ISM, through which polarized radiation propagates. The models show that depolarization canals similar to those observed can be caused by beam depolarization, and that the one-dimensional gradients in RM needed to produce these canals are ubiquitous in the medium.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the proceedings of "How does the Galaxy work? A Galactic Tertulia with Don Cox and Ron Reynolds", eds Alfaro, Perez & Franc