New map of the optical polarisation of galaxy M82

Bingham, R. G.; McMullan, D.; Pallister, W. S.; White, Catherine E.; Axon, D. J.; Scarrott, S. M.

doi:10.1038/259463a0

Cited by 34 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Recent observations of M51, a face-on grand-design spiral previously mapped with optical polarimetry (Scarrott et al 1987), failed to detect H band polarization, to quite low levels (Pavel & Clemens 2012). Infrared polarimetry of active galaxies, such as M82 (Bingham et al 1976;Jones 2000) and others (Ruiz et al 2000(Ruiz et al , 2003, have revealed complicated, multi-origin polarization components, but the degree to which these objects inform our understanding of the magnetic fields in more normal galaxies like the Milky Way is unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Normal Spiral Galaxy Viewed Through the Taurus Molecular Cloud Complex

Clemens¹,

Pavel²,

Cashman³

2013

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Few normal galaxies have been probed using near-infrared polarimetry, even though it reveals magnetic fields in the cool interstellar medium better than either optical or radio polarimetry. Deep H band (1.6 µm) linear imaging polarimetry toward Taurus serendipitously included the galaxy 2MASX J04412715+2433110 with adequate sensitivity and resolution to map polarization across nearly its full extent. The observations revealed the galaxy to be a steeply inclined (∼ 75 • ) disk type with a diameter, encompassing 90% of the Petrosian flux, of 4.2 kpc at a distance of 53 Mpc. Because the sight line passes through the Taurus Molecular Cloud complex, the foreground polarization needed to be measured and removed.The foreground extinction A V of 2.00±0.10 mag and reddening E(H − K) of 0.125±0.009 mag were also assessed and removed, based on analysis of 2MASS, UKIDSS, Spitzer, and WISE photometry using the NICE, NICER, and RJCE methods. Corrected for the polarized foreground, the galaxy polarization values range from zero to 3%. The polarizations are dominated by a disk-parallel magnetic field geometry, especially to the northeast, while either a vertical field or single scattering of bulge light produces disk-normal polarizations to the southwest. The multi-kpc coherence of the magnetic field revealed by the infrared polarimetry is in close agreement with short wavelength radio synchrotron observations of edge-on galaxies, indicating that both cool and warm interstellar media of disk galaxies may be threaded by common magnetic fields.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Normal Spiral Galaxy Viewed Through the Taurus Molecular Cloud Complex

Clemens¹,

Pavel²,

Cashman³

2013

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“…Scarrott who for many years delivered numerous results on magnetic fields using his electronographic camera methods. Up to 30% optical polarization in the halo region of M82 (Bingham et al 1976) and strong polarization along the dust lanes of M104 (Scarrott et al 1977) were published. The optical polarization in most cases indicated the presence of large-scale magnetic fields in galaxies (Elvius 1978).…”

Section: Nearby Galaxiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milestones in the Observations of Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Han

Wielebinski

2002

Chin. J. Astron. Astrophys.

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Magnetic fields are observed everywhere in the universe. In this review, we concentrate on the observational aspects of the magnetic fields of Galactic and extragalactic objects. Readers can follow the milestones in the observations of cosmic magnetic fields obtained from the most important tracers of magnetic fields, namely, the star-light polarization, the Zeeman effect, the rotation measures (RMs, hereafter) of extragalactic radio sources, the pulsar RMs, radio polarization observations, as well as the newly implemented sub-mm and mm polarization capabilities. The magnetic field of the Galaxy was first discovered in 1949 by optical polarization observations. The local magnetic fields within one or two kpc have been well delineated by starlight polarization data. The polarization observations of diffuse Galactic radio background emission in 1962 confirmed unequivocally the existence of a Galactic magnetic field. The bulk of the present information about the magnetic fields in the Galaxy comes from analysis of rotation measures of extragalactic radio sources and pulsars, which can be used to construct the 3-D magnetic field structure in the Galactic halo and Galactic disk. Radio synchrotron spurs in the Galactic center show a poloidal field, and the polarization mapping of dust emission and Zeeman observation in the central molecular zone reveal a toroidal magnetic field parallel to the Galactic plane. For nearby galaxies, both optical polarization and multifrequency radio polarization data clearly show the large-scale magnetic field following the spiral arms or dust lanes. For more distant objects, radio polarization is the only approach available to show the magnetic fields in the jets or lobes of radio galaxies or quasars. Clusters of galaxies also contain widely distributed magnetic fields, which are reflected by radio halos or the RM distribution of background objects. The intergalactic space could have been magnetized by outflows or galactic superwinds even in the early universe. The Zeeman effect and polarization of sub-mm and mm emission can be used for the study of magnetic fields in some Galactic molecular clouds but it is observed only at high intensity. Both approaches together can clearly show the role that magnetic fields play in star formation and cloud structure, which in principle would be analogous to galaxy formation from protogalactic clouds. The origin of the cosmic magnetic fields is an active field of research. A primordial magnetic field has not been as yet directly detected, but its ⋆

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“…He built and exploited an imaging optical polarimeter in conjunction with colleagues at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. This novel instrument was used to study the distribution of dust and its scattering properties across a wide range of celestial objects (Bingham et al 1976). Richard (Dick) Fong, a theoretical particle physicist, moved into cosmology with one of us (RSE) in 1975, and over the years this developed into the now highly-regarded Durham groups in extragalactic astronomy and computational cosmology.…”

Section: The Move To Astrophysicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sir Arnold Whittaker Wolfendale. 25 June 1927—21 December 2020

Ellis

Watson

2021

Biogr. Mems Fell. R. Soc.

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For over 50 years Arnold Wolfendale was an international leader in the fields of cosmic ray and gamma ray astronomy, making many seminal contributions. His extensive studies of the muon particle culminated in 1965 when, using an installation in the Kolar Gold Mine in India, he played a major role in the first detection of the neutrinos associated with muons produced in the atmosphere. His interests in the origin of high-energy cosmic rays were extensive and required the development of a better understanding of particle physics at energies beyond those accessible at accelerators. Recognizing that high-energy gamma rays can arise from cosmic ray interactions with the interstellar gas, he used early satellite data to argue for the galactic origin of intermediate-energy cosmic rays and for studies of the distribution of molecular hydrogen. His interests in astronomy, which he firmly held to be a branch of physics, drove him to develop a world-class activity in this area at Durham University. This achievement, in part, led to him being appointed Astronomer Royal in 1991. He used this position, and his roles as president of the Royal Astronomical Society, the Institute of Physics and the European Physical Society, to lobby tirelessly for more governmental support for science. He was an early advocate for improvements in the public understanding of science, leading by example. In his later years Arnold's interests extended to cosmology and horology, and he argued against a possible connection between cosmic rays and global warming. A brilliant communicator, Arnold gave a huge number of lectures each year to general audiences, almost to the end of his life.

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New map of the optical polarisation of galaxy M82

Cited by 34 publications

References 9 publications

Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Normal Spiral Galaxy Viewed Through the Taurus Molecular Cloud Complex

Near-Infrared Polarimetry of a Normal Spiral Galaxy Viewed Through the Taurus Molecular Cloud Complex

Milestones in the Observations of Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Sir Arnold Whittaker Wolfendale. 25 June 1927—21 December 2020

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