scholarly journals Local Bubble contribution to the 353-GHz dust polarized emission

2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. L11 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Skalidis ◽  
V. Pelgrims

It has not been shown so far whether the diffuse Galactic polarized emission at frequencies relevant for cosmic microwave background (CMB) studies originates from nearby or more distant regions of our Galaxy. This questions previous attempts that have been made to constrain magnetic field models at local and large scales. The scope of this work is to investigate and quantify the contribution of the dusty and magnetized local interstellar medium to the observed emission that is polarized by thermal dust. We used stars as distance candles and probed the line-of-sight submillimeter polarization properties by comparing the emission that is polarized by thermal dust at submillimeter wavelengths and the optical polarization caused by starlight. We provide statistically robust evidence that at high Galactic latitudes (|b| ≥ 60°), the 353 GHz polarized sky as observed by Planck is dominated by a close-by magnetized structure that extends between 200 and 300 pc and coincides with the shell of the Local Bubble. Our result will assist modeling the magnetic field of the Local Bubble and characterizing the CMB Galactic foregrounds.

2018 ◽  
Vol 617 ◽  
pp. A90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Liu

Context. Currently, detection of the primordial gravitational waves using the B-mode of cosmic microwave background (CMB) is primarily limited by our knowledge of the polarized microwave foreground emissions. Improvements of the foreground analysis are therefore necessary. As we revealed in an earlier paper, the E-mode and B-mode of the polarized foreground have noticeably different properties, both in morphology and frequency spectrum, suggesting that they arise from different physicalprocesses, and need to be studied separately. Aims. I study the polarized emission from Galactic loops, especially Loop I, and mainly focus on the following questions: Does the polarized loop emission contribute predominantly to the E-mode or B-mode? In which frequency bands and in which sky regions can the polarized loop emission be identified? Methods. Based on a well known result concerning the magnetic field alignment in supernova explosions, a theoretical expectation is established that the loop polarizations should be predominantly E-mode. In particular, the expected polarization angles of Loop I are compared with those from the real microwave band data of WMAP and Planck. Results and conclusions. The comparison between model and data shows remarkable consistency between the data and our expectations at all bands and for a large area of the sky. This result suggests that the polarized emission of Galactic Loop I is a major polarized component in all microwave bands from 23 to 353 GHz, and a considerable part of the polarized foreground likely originates from a local bubble associated with Loop I, instead of the far more distant Galactic emission. This result also provides a possible way to explain the E-to-B excess problem by contribution of the loops. Finally, this work may also provide the first geometrical evidence that the Earth was hit by a supernova explosion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 611 ◽  
pp. L5 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. R. Alves ◽  
F. Boulanger ◽  
K. Ferrière ◽  
L. Montier

The magnetic field in the local interstellar medium does not follow the large-scale Galactic magnetic field. The local magnetic field has probably been distorted by the Local Bubble, a cavity of hot ionized gas extending all around the Sun and surrounded by a shell of cold neutral gas and dust. However, so far no conclusive association between the local magnetic field and the Local Bubble has been established. Here we develop an analytical model for the magnetic field in the shell of the Local Bubble, which we represent as an inclined spheroid, off-centred from the Sun. We fit the model to Planck dust polarized emission observations within 30° of the Galactic poles. We find a solution that is consistent with a highly deformed magnetic field, with significantly different directions towards the north and south Galactic poles. This work sets a methodological framework for modelling the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the magnetic field in the local interstellar medium, which is a most awaited input for large-scale Galactic magnetic field models.


1993 ◽  
Vol 138 ◽  
pp. 305-309
Author(s):  
Marco Landolfi ◽  
Egidio Landi Degl’Innocenti ◽  
Maurizio Landi Degl’Innocenti ◽  
Jean-Louis Leroy ◽  
Stefano Bagnulo

AbstractBroadband linear polarization in the spectra of Ap stars is believed to be due to differential saturation between σ and π Zeeman components in spectral lines. This mechanism has been known for a long time to be the main agent of a similar phenomenon observed in sunspots. Since this phenomenon has been carefully calibrated in the solar case, it can be confidently used to deduce the magnetic field of Ap stars.Given the magnetic configuration of a rotating star, it is possible to deduce the broadband polarization at any phase. Calculations performed for the oblique dipole model show that the resulting polarization diagrams are very sensitive to the values of i (the angle between the rotation axis and the line of sight) and β (the angle between the rotation and magnetic axes). The dependence on i and β is such that the four-fold ambiguity typical of the circular polarization observations ((i,β), (β,i), (π-i,π-β), (π-β,π-i)) can be removed.


1997 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 227-238
Author(s):  
Carl Heiles

AbstractThere are almost no direct observational indicators of the magnetic field inside the local bubble. Just outside the bubble, the best tracers are stellar polarization and HI Zeeman splitting. These show that the local field does not follow the large-scale Galactic field. Here we discuss whether the deformation of the large-scale field by the local HI shells is consistent with the observations. We concentrate on the Loop 1 region, and find that the field lines are well-explained by this idea; in addition, the bright radio filaments of Radio Loop 1 delineate particular field lines that are “lit up” by an excess of relativistic electrons.


2019 ◽  
Vol 629 ◽  
pp. A22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan J. Hofmeister ◽  
Dominik Utz ◽  
Stephan G. Heinemann ◽  
Astrid Veronig ◽  
Manuela Temmer

In this study, we investigate in detail the photospheric magnetic structure of 98 coronal holes using line-of-sight magnetograms of SDO/HMI, and for a subset of 42 coronal holes using HINODE/SOT G-band filtergrams. We divided the magnetic field maps into magnetic elements and quiet coronal hole regions by applying a threshold at ±25 G. We find that the number of magnetic bright points in magnetic elements is well correlated with the area of the magnetic elements (cc = 0.83 ± 0.01). Further, the magnetic flux of the individual magnetic elements inside coronal holes is related to their area by a power law with an exponent of 1.261 ± 0.004 (cc = 0.984 ± 0.001). Relating the magnetic elements to the overall structure of coronal holes, we find that on average (69 ± 8)% of the overall unbalanced magnetic flux of the coronal holes arises from long-lived magnetic elements with lifetimes > 40 h. About (22 ± 4)% of the unbalanced magnetic flux arises from a very weak background magnetic field in the quiet coronal hole regions with a mean magnetic field density of about 0.2−1.2 G. This background magnetic field is correlated to the flux of the magnetic elements with lifetimes of > 40 h (cc = 0.88 ± 0.02). The remaining flux arises from magnetic elements with lifetimes < 40 h. By relating the properties of the magnetic elements to the overall properties of the coronal holes, we find that the unbalanced magnetic flux of the coronal holes is completely determined by the total area that the long-lived magnetic elements cover (cc = 0.994 ± 0.001).


1984 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tinbergen

The use of interstellar polarization as a measurement tool for dust or magnetic field presents practical difficulties (dust and magnetic field configurations inextricably mixed up; limited number of suitable stars). This general rule applies even more in the local environment, for which the polarizations are small and the influence of errors of observation changes in character. Because of this, the use of polarimetry and the design of polarimetric observing programmes for the local interstellar medium must be approached with even greater care than in the general case. I propose in this review to amplify this point, so that the reader can judge for himself to what extent he can use published results and can also, given the opportunity and instrumentation, design an observing programme that will really pay off.


1997 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
R. Lallement

AbstractConstraints on the ambient (circumsolar) interstellar medium can be derived from observations of interstellar neutrals or their derivatives in the heliosphere. New results have been recently obtained which, when combined with optical and UV observations of the nearby stars (HST-GHRS, EUVE), remove long-standing contradictions and allow us to infer for our local cloud, pressure, ionization and limits on the magnetic field. The electron density in the circumsolar gas is found to be between 0.04 and 0.15 cm−3. Its total thermal pressure is within the interval 1700 – 2600 cm−3 K. If the local magnetic field is nearly perpendicular to the interstellar wind flow, which is likely, then its intensity is smaller than 3.6 μG. Our Sun is located very close to the edge of the local cloud (the volume of gas which has the same physical properties as the circumsolar gas), while there are at least 5 other cloudlets within 10 pc. Abundances vary from cloudlet to cloudlet. How they are located and whether they are separated by tenuous gas or shock discontinuities is not clear yet. Semi-hot (105 K) gas has been detected in absorption towards nearby stars (Wood et al, 1996), which probably originates in the “H walls” surrounding our heliosphere and other asterospheres. This shows that semi-hot gas is not necessarily linked with cloud interfaces with the hot gas of the Local Bubble.


2019 ◽  
Vol 628 ◽  
pp. A1 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Landstreet ◽  
S. Bagnulo

We report the discovery of a new magnetic DA white dwarf (WD), WD 0011 − 721, which is located within the very important 20 pc volume-limited sample of the closest WDs to the Sun. This star has a mean field modulus ⟨|B|⟩ of 343 kG, and from the polarisation signal we deduce a line-of-sight field component of 75 kG. The magnetic field is sufficiently weak to have escaped detection in classification spectra. We then present a preliminary exploration of the data concerning the frequency of such fields among WDs with hydrogen-rich atmospheres (DA stars). We find that 20 ± 5% of the DA WDs in this volume have magnetic fields, mostly weaker than 1 MG. Unlike the slow field decay found among the magnetic Bp stars of the upper main sequence, the WDs in this sample show no evidence of magnetic field or flux changes over several Gyr.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S302) ◽  
pp. 220-221
Author(s):  
Adriana Válio ◽  
Eduardo Spagiari

AbstractSunspots are important signatures of the global solar magnetic field cycle. It is believed that other stars also present these same phenomena. However, today it is not possible to observe directly star spots due to their very small sizes. The method applied here studies star spots by detecting small variations in the stellar light curve during a planetary transit. When the planet passes in front of its host star, there is a chance of it occulting, at least partially, a spot. This allows the determination of the spots physical characteristics, such as size, temperature, and location on the stellar surface. In the case of the Sun, there exists a relation between the magnetic field and the spot temperature. We estimate the magnetic field component along the line-of-sight and the intensity of sunspots using data from the MDI instrument on board of the SOHO satellite. Assuming that the same relation applies to other stars, we estimate spots magnetic fields of CoRoT-2 and Kepler-17 stars.


2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A64 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Beuther ◽  
J. D. Soler ◽  
W. Vlemmings ◽  
H. Linz ◽  
Th. Henning ◽  
...  

Context. The importance of magnetic fields at the onset of star formation related to the early fragmentation and collapse processes is largely unexplored today. Aims. We want to understand the magnetic field properties at the earliest evolutionary stages of high-mass star formation. Methods. The Atacama Large Millimeter Array is used at 1.3 mm wavelength in full polarization mode to study the polarized emission, and, using this, the magnetic field morphologies and strengths of the high-mass starless region IRDC 18310-4. Results. Polarized emission is clearly detected in four sub-cores of the region; in general it shows a smooth distribution, also along elongated cores. Estimating the magnetic field strength via the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method and following a structure function analysis, we find comparably large magnetic field strengths between ~0.3–5.3 mG. Comparing the data to spectral line observations, the turbulent-to-magnetic energy ratio is low, indicating that turbulence does not significantly contribute to the stability of the gas clump. A mass-to-flux ratio around the critical value 1.0 – depending on column density – indicates that the region starts to collapse, which is consistent with the previous spectral line analysis of the region. Conclusions. While this high-mass region is collapsing and thus at the verge of star formation, the high magnetic field values and the smooth spatial structure indicate that the magnetic field is important for the fragmentation and collapse process. This single case study can only be the starting point for larger sample studies of magnetic fields at the onset of star formation.


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