Magnetic Dipole Microwave Emission from Dust Grains

Abstract

Thermal fluctuations in the magnetization of interstellar grains will produce magnetic dipole emission at frequencies below ~100 GHz. We show how to calculate absorption and emission from small particles composed of magnetic materials. The Kramers-Kronig relations for a dusty medium are generalized to include the possibility of magnetic grains. The frequency-dependent magnetic permeability is discussed for candidate grain materials, including iron and magnetite. We calculate emission spectra for various interstellar grain candidates. While paramagnetic grains or magnetite grains cannot account for the observed "anomalous" emission from dust in the 14-90 GHz range, stronger magnetic dipole emission will result if a fraction of the grain material is ferromagnetic, as could be the case given the high Fe content of interstellar dust. The observed emission from dust near 90 GHz implies that not more than 5% of interstellar Fe is in the form of metallic iron grains or inclusions (e.g., in "GEMS"). However, we show that if most interstellar Fe is in a moderately ferromagnetic material, it could contribute a substantial fraction of the observed 14-90 GHz emission, perhaps comparable to the contribution from spinning ultrasmall dust grains. The two emission mechanisms can be distinguished by measuring the emission from dark clouds. The expected polarization of magnetic dipole emission is discussed