Cited by 84Astrophysics and Cosmic PhenomenaAstrophysics and Star Formation StudiesAstrophysical Phenomena and Observations

Milestones in the Observations of Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Open access
Han, Jin-Lin, Wielebinski, Richard·2002·Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Abstract

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 existence must be considered to give the seed field necessary for many amplification processes that have been developed. Possibly, the magnetic fields were generated in protogalactic plasma clouds by the dynamo process, and maintained again by the dynamo after galaxies were formed.

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Crossref · 10.1088/1009-9271/2/4/293

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279 of 279 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Parton-parton scattering is expected to lead to thermalization on time scales ∼1 fm/c.

    “Partonparton scattering is expected to lead to thermalization on time scales ∼ 1 fm /c [119, 120].”

    From Phase Transitions in the Early and Present Universe (2006) · cites this paper as [119]

    The paper’s section 6 discusses polarized radio emission, and section 8 discusses observational limits of polarization measurements; neither addresses parton scattering. Searches for thermalization, parton collisions, and a 1 fm/c timescale found no relevant passage in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.77)

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  • Several experimental signatures had been associated with the formation of the QGP, and the heavy ion program at SPS focused on several of them.

    “Several experimental signatures had been associated with the formation of the QGP [119, 128], and the heavy ion program at SPS focused on several of them.”

    From Phase Transitions in the Early and Present Universe (2006) · cites this paper as [119]

    The passages from §6.4, “Radio Galaxies and Quasars,” and §6, “Radio Polarization of Diffuse Emission,” concern cosmic magnetic fields and polarization, not heavy-ion experiments. Searches for QGP signatures and the SPS heavy-ion program found no passage addressing the claim. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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3 of the 282 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 20

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Authors
Han, J.-L., & Wielebinski, R.
Affiliations
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (DE)
Venue
Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2002-08
Volume
2
Issue
4
Pages
293-324
ISSN
1009-9271 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2147397269
Cited by
84
References
282
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 14
FWCI
4.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • 天文和天体物理学研究:英文版 (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Keywords
galactic magnetic fields, stellar polarization, Zeeman effect, rotation measure, radio polarization, Galactic halo, Galactic disk, poloidal magnetic field, toroidal magnetic field, Central Molecular Zone, spiral arms, radio galaxies, quasars, galaxy clusters, radio halos, intergalactic magnetic fields, galactic superwinds, molecular clouds, star formation, dynamo, primordial magnetic fields

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