scholarly journals A Detailed Model of the Distribution of Synchrotron Emission in the Galactic Disk

1990 ◽  
Vol 140 ◽  
pp. 61-61
Author(s):  
A. Broadbent ◽  
C.G.T. Haslam ◽  
J.L. Osborne
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Field Variation ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Spiral Arm ◽  
Scale Length

A technique for separating the radio continuum emission of the Galaxy into its thermal and nonthermal components has been recently developed by Broadbent, Haslam and Osborne (1989). In this the thermal component is identified by its detailed correlation with the 60 μm infrared emission as observed by IRAS after the subtraction of zodiacal light and the HI-associated dust emission. This technique has been applied to the 408 MHz allsky survey of Haslam et al. (1982). A model of the distribution of synchrotron emissivity in the galactic disk has then been derived including information on the other tracers of spiral structure (HI, CO and giant HII regions) in order to account in detail for the observed nonthermal emission. The spiral arm pattern has two pairs of arms emanating from a central ellipse. The function describing the underlying variation of synchrotron emissivity with galactocentric radius is zero at the centre, rises to a sharp peak and then falls off slowly beyond 3 kpc. Using a scale length of the variation of cosmic ray electron density derived from γ-ray observations, we find that the scale length of the magnetic field variation must be as long as 22 kpc. This agrees with the scale length derived assuming equipartition between energy densities of magnetic field and cosmic rays. The variation of emissivity with height above the plane deduced by Phillipps et al. (1981) when included in our model gives good fits to the observed cuts across the plane. We have modelled the variation of the galactic magnetic field across a spiral arm as a gaussian. In order to fit the peaks in the galactic plane profile σ=0.2 kpc and a maximum compression of the field in the arm of 3.5:1 is required. These parameters are compatible with the results of N-body simulations of spiral arm formation which treat gas clouds as the unit particles. A detailed description of the model is about to be submitted for publication.

scholarly journals Investigation of the cosmic ray population and magnetic field strength in the halo of NGC 891

2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. A98 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. D. Mulcahy ◽  
A. Horneffer ◽  
R. Beck ◽  
M. Krause ◽  
P. Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Strength ◽  
Magnetic Field Strength ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Very Large Array ◽  
Field Strengths

Context. Cosmic rays and magnetic fields play an important role for the formation and dynamics of gaseous halos of galaxies. Aims. Low-frequency radio continuum observations of edge-on galaxies are ideal to study cosmic-ray electrons (CREs) in halos via radio synchrotron emission and to measure magnetic field strengths. Spectral information can be used to test models of CRE propagation. Free–free absorption by ionized gas at low frequencies allows us to investigate the properties of the warm ionized medium in the disk. Methods. We obtained new observations of the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 891 at 129–163 MHz with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) and at 13–18 GHz with the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI) and combine them with recent high-resolution Very Large Array (VLA) observations at 1–2 GHz, enabling us to study the radio continuum emission over two orders of magnitude in frequency. Results. The spectrum of the integrated nonthermal flux density can be fitted by a power law with a spectral steepening towards higher frequencies or by a curved polynomial. Spectral flattening at low frequencies due to free–free absorption is detected in star-forming regions of the disk. The mean magnetic field strength in the halo is 7 ± 2 μG. The scale heights of the nonthermal halo emission at 146 MHz are larger than those at 1.5 GHz everywhere, with a mean ratio of 1.7 ± 0.3, indicating that spectral ageing of CREs is important and that diffusive propagation dominates. The halo scale heights at 146 MHz decrease with increasing magnetic field strengths which is a signature of dominating synchrotron losses of CREs. On the other hand, the spectral index between 146 MHz and 1.5 GHz linearly steepens from the disk to the halo, indicating that advection rather than diffusion is the dominating CRE transport process. This issue calls for refined modelling of CRE propagation. Conclusions. Free–free absorption is probably important at and below about 150 MHz in the disks of edge-on galaxies. To reliably separate the thermal and nonthermal emission components, to investigate spectral steepening due to CRE energy losses, and to measure magnetic field strengths in the disk and halo, wide frequency coverage and high spatial resolution are indispensable.

scholarly journals Deciphering the radio star formation correlation on kpc scales

2020 ◽  
Vol 633 ◽  
pp. A144 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vollmer ◽  
M. Soida ◽  
R. Beck ◽  
M. Powalka
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Spiral Galaxies ◽  
Star Formation Rate ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Smoothing Kernel ◽  
The Magnetic Field

One of the tightest correlations in astronomy is the relation between the integrated radio continuum and the far-infrared (FIR) emission. Within nearby galaxies, variations in the radio–FIR correlation have been observed, mainly because the cosmic ray electrons migrate before they lose their energy via synchrotron emission or escape. The major cosmic-ray electron transport mechanisms within the plane of galactic disks are diffusion, and streaming. A predicted radio continuum map can be obtained by convolving the map of cosmic-ray electron sources, represented by that of the star formation, with adaptive Gaussian and exponential kernels. The ratio between the smoothing lengthscales at 6 cm and 20 cm can be used to determine, between diffusion and streaming, which is the dominant transport mechanism. The dependence of the smoothing lengthscale on the star formation rate bears information on the dependence of the magnetic field strength, or the ratio between the ordered and turbulent magnetic field strengths on star formation. Star formation maps of eight rather face-on local and Virgo cluster spiral galaxies were constructed from Spitzer and Herschel infrared and GALEX UV observations. These maps were convolved with adaptive Gaussian and exponential smoothing kernels to obtain model radio continuum emission maps. It was found that in asymmetric ridges of polarized radio continuum emission, the total power emission is enhanced with respect to the star formation rate. At a characteristic star formation rate of $ \dot{\Sigma}_*=8 \times 10^{-3}\,M_{\odot} $ yr−1 kpc−2, the typical lengthscale for the transport of cosmic-ray electrons is l = 0.9 ± 0.3 kpc at 6 cm, and l = 1.8 ± 0.5 kpc at 20 cm. Perturbed spiral galaxies tend to have smaller lengthscales. This is a natural consequence of the enhancement of the magnetic field caused by the interaction. The discrimination between the two cosmic-ray electron transport mechanisms, diffusion, and streaming is based on (i) the convolution kernel (Gaussian or exponential); (ii) the dependence of the smoothing kernel on the local magnetic field, and thus on the local star formation rate; (iii) the ratio between the two smoothing lengthscales via the frequency dependence of the smoothing kernel, and (iv) the dependence of the smoothing kernel on the ratio between the ordered and the turbulent magnetic field. Based on our empirical results, methods (i) and (ii) cannot be used to determine the cosmic ray transport mechanism. Important asymmetric large-scale residuals and a local dependence of the smoothing length on Bord/Bturb are most probably responsible for the failure of methods (i) and (ii), respectively. On the other hand, the classifications based on l6 cm/l20 cm (method iii) and Bord/Bturb (method iv), are well consistent and complementary. We argue that in the six Virgo spiral galaxies, the turbulent magnetic field is globally enhanced in the disk. Therefore, the regions where the magnetic field is independent of the star formation rate are more common. In addition, Bord/Bturb decreases, leading to a diffusion lengthscale that is smaller than the streaming lengthscale. Therefore, cosmic ray electron streaming dominates in most of the Virgo spiral galaxies.

scholarly journals The resolved radio–FIR correlation in nearby galaxies with Herschel and Spitzer

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S284) ◽  
pp. 400-403
Author(s):  
Fatemeh S. Tabatabaei ◽  
Eva Schinnerer ◽  
Eric Murphy ◽  
Rainer Beck ◽  
Annie Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Diffusion Length ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Far Infrared ◽  
Scale Dependence ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Synchrotron Emission ◽  
Nearby Galaxies

AbstractWe investigate the correlation between the far-infrared (FIR) and radio continuum emission from NGC6946 on spatial scales between 0.9 and 17 kpc. We use the Herschel PACS (70, 100, 160μm) and SPIRE (250μm) data from the KINGFISH project. Separating the free-free and synchrotron components of the radio continuum emission, we find that FIR is better correlated with the free-free than the synchrotron emission. Compared to a similar study in M33 and M31, we find that the scale dependence of the synchrotron–FIR correlation in NGC6946 is more similar to M31 than M33. The scale dependence of the synchrotron–FIR correlation can be explained by the turbulent-to-ordered magnetic field ratio or, equivalently, the diffusion length of the cosmic ray electrons in these galaxies.

scholarly journals Radio constraints on dark matter annihilation in Canes Venatici I with LOFAR†

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (3) ◽  
pp. 2663-2672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Vollmann ◽  
Volker Heesen ◽  
Timothy W. Shimwell ◽  
Martin J Hardcastle ◽  
Marcus Brüggen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Dark Matter ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dark Matter Annihilation ◽  
Underlying Assumption ◽  
Field Strengths

ABSTRACT Dwarf galaxies are dark matter (DM) dominated and therefore promising targets for the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), which are well-known candidates for DM. The annihilation of WIMPs produces ultrarelativistic cosmic ray electrons and positrons that emit synchrotron radiation in the presence of magnetic fields. For typical magnetic field strengths (few μG) and $\mathcal {O}$(GeV–TeV) WIMP masses, this emission peaks at hundreds of MHz. Here, we use the non-detection of 150-MHz radio continuum emission from the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Canes Venatici I with the Low-Frequency Array to derive constraints on the annihilation cross-section of WIMPs into primary electron–positron and other fundamental particle–antiparticle pairs. Our main underlying assumption is that the transport of the cosmic rays can be described by the diffusion approximation, thus requiring a non-zero magnetic field strength with small-scale structure. In particular, by adopting magnetic field strengths of $\mathcal {O}(1\, \mu$G) and diffusion coefficients $\sim \!10^{27}~\rm cm^2\, s^{-1}$, we obtain limits that are comparable with those set by the Fermi Large Area Telescope using gamma-ray observations of this particular galaxy. Assuming s-wave annihilation and WIMPs making up 100 per cent of the DM density, our benchmark limits exclude several thermal WIMP realizations in the [2, 20]-GeV mass range. We caution, however, that our limits for the cross-section are subject to enormous uncertainties that we also quantitatively assess. In particular, variations on the propagation parameters or on the DM halo can shift our limits up by several orders of magnitude (in the pessimistic scenario).

scholarly journals Bright Prospects: Comparing the Hα Survey with Large-scale Radio Continuum Emission

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-55
Author(s):  
A. R. Duncan ◽  
R. F. Haynes
Keyword(s):  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Polar Plumes ◽  
Spiral Arm

AbstractProspects for comparisons between the AAO/UKST Hα survey and large-scale radio continuum emission are considered, with particular reference to the recently completed Parkes 2·4 GHz survey of the southern Galactic Plane. Both these surveys have a high sensitivity to thermal emission, and comparisons between the Parkes work and previous Hα surveys show many objects in common. Possibilities for new detections include: a number of new supernova remnants; the faint extensions and envelopes surrounding ‘classical’ HII complexes, and other faint regions of thermal emission; several active HII complexes, including an outflow of ionised gas from IC 4628 and a number of bi-polar ‘plumes’ of low-density, thermal material apparently associated with HII complexes on the Carina spiral arm.

scholarly journals Radio Studies of Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy

1991 ◽  
Vol 144 ◽  
pp. 187-196
Author(s):  
W. Reich
Keyword(s):  
Supernova Remnants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Galactic Halo ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Radio Studies

Changes of the cosmic ray electron spectrum throughout the Galaxy have been found, based on the comparison of large-scale radio continuum surveys. These observations are not compatible with the assumption of a static Galactic halo, but indicate the existence of a Galactic wind. Galactic plane surveys reveal sources of cosmic ray electrons in the Galactic disk. Recent studies of the population of radio sources show no evidence for a large number of compact Galactic non-thermal sources. Most of the extended sources are probably HII-regions. Relatively few new supernova remnants (SNRs) with low surface brightness could be identified. Most of the non-thermal emission in the disk-halo interface seems diffuse or unresolved, even at arcmin angular resolution.

scholarly journals Magnetic field evolution in dwarf and Magellanic-type galaxies

2018 ◽  
Vol 611 ◽  
pp. A7 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Siejkowski ◽  
M. Soida ◽  
K. T. Chyży
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Star Formation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Dark Matter Halo ◽  
Field Evolution ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Aims. Low-mass galaxies radio observations show in many cases surprisingly high levels of magnetic field. The mass and kinematics of such objects do not favour the development of effective large-scale dynamo action. We attempted to check if the cosmic-ray-driven dynamo can be responsible for measured magnetization in this class of poorly investigated objects. We investigated how starburst events on the whole, as well as when part of the galactic disk, influence the magnetic field evolution. Methods. We created a model of a dwarf/Magellanic-type galaxy described by gravitational potential constituted from two components: the stars and the dark-matter halo. The model is evolved by solving a three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic equation with an additional cosmic-ray component, which is approximated as a fluid. The turbulence is generated in the system via supernova explosions manifested by the injection of cosmic-rays. Results. The cosmic-ray-driven dynamo works efficiently enough to amplify the magnetic field even in low-mass dwarf/Magellanic-type galaxies. The e-folding times of magnetic energy growth are 0.50 and 0.25 Gyr for the slow (50 km s−1) and fast (100 km s−1) rotators, respectively. The amplification is being suppressed as the system reaches the equipartition level between kinetic, magnetic, and cosmic-ray energies. An episode of star formation burst amplifies the magnetic field but only for a short time while increased star formation activity holds. We find that a substantial amount of gas is expelled from the galactic disk, and that the starburst events increase the efficiency of this process.

scholarly journals Cosmic ray driven dynamo in barred and ringed galaxies

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S274) ◽  
pp. 398-400
Author(s):  
K. Kulpa-Dybeł ◽  
K. Otmianowska-Mazur ◽  
B. Kulesza-Żydzik ◽  
G. Kowal ◽  
D. Wóltański ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Radio Emission ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Galactic Disk ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Field Configuration ◽  
Magnetic Field Configuration ◽  
Global Evolution ◽  
Weak Magnetic Fields ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractWe study the global evolution of the magnetic field and interstellar medium (ISM) of the barred and ringed galaxies in the presence of non-axisymmetric components of the potential, i.e. the bar and/or the oval perturbations. The magnetohydrodynamical dynamo is driven by cosmic rays (CR), which are continuously supplied to the disk by supernova (SN) remnants. Additionally, weak, dipolar and randomly oriented magnetic field is injected to the galactic disk during SN explosions. To compare our results directly with the observed properties of galaxies we construct realistic maps of high-frequency polarized radio emission. The main result is that CR driven dynamo can amplify weak magnetic fields up to few μG within few Gyr in barred and ringed galaxies. What is more, the modelled magnetic field configuration resembles maps of the polarized intensity observed in barred and ringed galaxies.

scholarly journals The magnetic field structure in NGC 253 in presence of a galactic wind

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S259) ◽  
pp. 509-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker Heesen ◽  
M. Krause ◽  
R. Beck ◽  
R.-J. Dettmar
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Field Structure ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Magnetic Field Structure ◽  
Galactic Wind ◽  
Radio Halo ◽  
Large Scale Magnetic Field ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractWe present radio continuum polarimetry observations of the nearby edge-on galaxy NGC 253 which possesses a very bright radio halo. Using the vertical synchrotron emission profiles and the lifetimes of cosmic-ray electrons, we determined the cosmic-ray bulk speed as 300±30 km s−1, indicating the presence of a galactic wind in this galaxy. The large-scale magnetic field was decomposed into a toroidal axisymmetric component in the disk and a poloidal component in the halo. The poloidal component shows a prominent X-shaped magnetic field structure centered on the nucleus, similar to the magnetic field observed in other edge-on galaxies. Faraday rotation measures indicate that the poloidal field has an odd parity (antisymmetric). NGC 253 offers the possibility to compare the magnetic field structure with models of galactic dynamos and/or galactic wind flows.

scholarly journals CHANG-ES

2019 ◽  
Vol 632 ◽  
pp. A13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Stein ◽  
R.-J. Dettmar ◽  
M. Weżgowiec ◽  
J. Irwin ◽  
R. Beck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Strength ◽  
Flux Density ◽  
Magnetic Field Strength ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Transport Processes ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Context. The radio continuum halos of edge-on spiral galaxies have diverse morphologies, with different magnetic field properties and cosmic ray (CR) transport processes into the halo. Aims. Using the Continuum HAloes in Nearby Galaxies – an EVLA Survey (CHANG-ES) radio continuum data from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in two frequency bands, 6 GHz (C-band) and 1.5 GHz (L-band), we analyzed the radio properties, including polarization and the transport processes of the CR electrons (CREs), in the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4013. Supplementary LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR) data at 150 MHz are used to study the low-frequency properties of this galaxy and X-ray data are used to investigate the central region. Methods. We determined the total radio flux densities (central source, disk, halo and total) as well as the radio scale heights of the radio continuum emission at both CHANG-ES frequencies and at the LOFAR frequency. We derived the magnetic field orientation from CHANG-ES polarization data and rotation measure synthesis (RM synthesis). Furthermore, we used the revised equipartition formula to calculate the magnetic field strength. Lastly, we modeled the processes of CR transport into the halo with the 1D SPINNAKER model. Results. The central point source dominates the radio continuum emission with a mean of ∼35% of the total flux density emerging from the central source in both CHANG-ES bands. Complementary X-ray data from Chandra show one dominant point source in the central part. The XMM-Newton spectrum shows hard X-rays, but no clear AGN classification is possible at this time. The radio continuum halo of NGC 4013 in C-band is rather small, while the low-frequency LOFAR data reveal a large halo. The scale height analysis shows that Gaussian fits, with halo scale heights of 1.2 kpc in C-band, 2.0 kpc in L-band, and 3.1 kpc at 150 MHz, better represent the intensity profiles than do exponential fits. The frequency dependence gives clear preference to diffusive CRE transport. The radio halo of NGC 4013 is relatively faint and contributes only 40% and 56% of the total flux density in C-band and L-band, respectively. This is less than in galaxies with wind-driven halos. While the SPINNAKER models of the radio profiles show that advection with a launching velocity of ∼20 km s−1 (increasing to ∼50 km s−1 at 4 kpc height) fits the data equally well or slightly better, diffusion is the dominating transport process up to heights of 1–2 kpc. The polarization data reveal plane-parallel, regular magnetic fields within the entire disk and vertical halo components indicating the presence of an axisymmetric field having a radial component pointing outwards. The mean magnetic field strength of the disk of NGC 4013 of 6.6 μG is rather small. Large-scale vertical fields are observed in the halo out to heights of about 6 kpc. Conclusions. The interaction and the low star formation rate (SFR) across the disk of NGC 4013 probably influence the appearance of its radio continuum halo and are correlated with the low total magnetic field strength. Several observable quantities give consistent evidence that the CR transport in the halo of NGC 4013 is diffusive: the frequency dependence of the synchrotron scale height, the disk/halo flux density ratio, the vertical profile of the synchrotron spectral index, the small propagation speed measured modeled with SPINNAKER, and the low temperature of the X-ray emitting hot gas.

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