Strong Symmetry in the Outer Galactic Magnetic Field at Low Latitudes

Details Strong Symmetry in the Outer Galactic Magnetic Field at Low Latitudes Strong Symmetry in the Outer Galactic Magnetic Field at Low Latitudes

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21348604p&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #486.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.459

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Near-Infrared (1.6 micron) linear imaging polarimetry of the outer Galactic magnetic field has shown strong symmetry above and below the Galactic disk. Measurements were taken within 10 degrees of the galactic mid-plane with the Mimir instrument on the Perkins Telescope in Flagstaff, AZ. These nine 10x10 arcmin fields are sampled at much higher stellar densities than previous measurements, yielding polarimetry for most stars brighter than H=14th magnitude. We show that the field remains well aligned with the galactic disk and conclude that there is a well ordered toroidal field. Linear polarimetry cannot determine the symmetry of the magnetic field about the disk, so these measurements alone cannot distinguish between dynamo models (A0, S0, or a properly orientated S1). Previously published radio rotation measure surveys, however, are antisymmetric with respect to the galactic disk and together provide strong evidence for an A0 type Galactic dynamo. At these low latitudes, polarizations are dominated by the toroidal component present in all dynamo models. As future polarimetry pushes towards the galactic caps, the dipolar nature of the Galactic dynamo will be tested and can further constrain the Galactic dynamo. This work is partially supported by NSF Grant AST-0607500.

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