Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 0806.2060

Magnetic fields and star formation in spiral galaxies

Marita Krause
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The main observational results from radio continuum and polarization observations about the magnetic field strength and large-scale pattern for face-on and edge-on spiral galaxies are summarized and compared within our sample of galaxies of different morphological types, inclinations, and star formation rates (SFR). We found that galaxies with low SFR have higher thermal fractions/smaller synchrotron fractions than those with normal or high SFR. Adopting an equipartition model, we conclude that the nonthermal radio emission and the \emph{total magnetic field} strength grow nonlinearly with SFR, while the regular magnetic field strength does not seem to depend on SFR. We also studied the magnetic field structure and disk thicknesses in highly inclined (edge-on) galaxies. We found in four galaxies that - despite their different radio appearance - the vertical scale heights for both, the thin and thick disk/halo, are about equal (0.3/1.8 kpc at 4.75 GHz), independently of their different SFR. This implies that all these galaxies host a galactic wind, in which the bulk velocity of the cosmic rays (CR) is determined by the total field strength within the galactic disk. The galaxies in our sample also show a similar large-scale magnetic field configuration, parallel to the midplane and X-shaped further away from the disk plane, independent of Hubble type and SFR in the disk. Hence we conclude that also the large-scale magnetic field pattern does not depend on the amount of SFR.

Explore related subjects

astro-ph

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Marita Krause. 2009-05-07. Magnetic fields and star formation in spiral galaxies. https://arxiv.org/abs/0806.2060

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2015

Subarcsecond Submillimeter Imaging of the Ultracompact HII Region G5.89-0.39

We present the first subarcsecond submillimeter images of the enigmatic ultracompact HII region (UCHII) G5.89-0.39. Observed with the SMA, the 875 micron continuum emission exhibits a shell-like morphology similar to longer wavelengths. By using images with comparable angular resolution at five frequencies obtained from the VLA archive and CARMA, we have removed the free-free component from the 875 micron image. We find five sources of dust emission: two compact warm objects (SMA1 and SMA2) along the periphery of the shell, and three additional regions further out. There is no dust emission inside the shell, supporting the picture of a dust-free cavity surrounded by high density gas. At subarcsecond resolution, most of the molecular gas tracers encircle the UCHII region and appear to constrain its expansion. We also find G5.89-0.39 to be almost completely lacking in organic molecular line emission. The dust cores SMA1 and SMA2 exhibit compact spatial peaks in optically-thin gas tracers (e.g. 34SO2), while SMA1 also coincides with 11.9 micron emission. In CO(3-2), we find a high-velocity north/south bipolar outflow centered on SMA1, aligned with infrared H2 knots, and responsible for much of the maser activity. We conclude that SMA1 is an embedded intermediate mass protostar with an estimated luminosity of 3000 Lsun and a circumstellar mass of ~1 Msun. Finally, we have discovered an NH3 (3,3) maser 12 arcsec northwest of the UCHII region, coincident with a 44 GHz CH3OH maser, and possibly associated with the Br gamma outflow source identified by Puga et al. (2006).

astro-ph↗
arXiv2015

Solutions to the "General Grand Unification Problem," and the Questions "How Did Our Universe Come Into Being?" and "Of What is Empty Space Composed?"

Using mathematical techniques to model one of the most simplistic of human linguistic processes, it is rationally predicted that within the nonstandard physical world (NSP-world) there exists a force-like (logical) operator *S and an entity w' such that *S{w'} sequentially generates each of the Natural systems that comprise a Universe. This model shows specifically that within the NSP-world the behavior of each Natural world Natural system is related logically. Further, the model predicts the rational existence of a single type of entity within the NSP-world's substratum that can be used to construct, by means of an exceptionally simple process, all of the fundamental Natural world particles used within particle physics. In section 11.2, it is shown how (Natural law) allowable perturbations in Natural system behavior are also included within this mathematical model. These results solve the pre-geometry problem of Wheeler. In general, the model predicts that when the behavior of these Universe creating processes is viewed globally, it can be described as apparently mirroring the behavior of an infinitely powerful computer or mind.

astro-ph↗
arXiv2014

Dark matter in elliptical galaxies: I. Is the total mass density profile of the NFW form or even steeper?

Elliptical galaxies are modelled as Sersic luminosity distributions with density profiles (DPs) for the total mass adopted from the DPs of haloes within dissipationless LambdaCDM N-body simulations. Ellipticals turn out to be inconsistent with cuspy low-concentration NFW models representing the total mass, nor are they consistent with a steeper -1.5 inner slope, nor with the shallower models proposed by Navarro et al. 04, nor with NFW models 10 times more concentrated than predicted, as deduced from several X-ray observations: the mass models, extrapolated inwards, lead to local mass-to-light ratios that are smaller than the stellar value inside an effective radius (R_e), and to central aperture velocity dispersions that are much smaller than observed. This conclusion remains true as long as there is no sharp steepening (slope < -2) of the dark matter (DM) DPs just inside 0.01 virial radii. The too low total mass and velocity dispersion produced within R_e by an NFW-like total mass profile suggests that the stellar component should dominate the DM one out to at least R_e. It should then be difficult to kinematically constrain the inner slope of the dark matter DP of ellipticals. The high concentration parameters deduced from X-ray observations appear to be a consequence of fitting an NFW model to the total mass DP made up of a stellar component that dominates inside and a DM component that dominates outwards. An appendix gives the virial mass dependence of the concentration parameter, central density, and total mass of the Navarro et al. model. In a 2nd appendix are given single integral expressions for the velocity dispersions averaged along the line-of-sight, in circular apertures and in thin slits, for general luminosity density and mass distributions, with isotropic orbits.

astro-ph↗