Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Galaxy Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2011-12-08
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Galaxy Astrophysics
6 pages, 6 figures. To be published in 'The Central Kiloparsec in Galactic Nuclei - Astronomy at High Angular Resolution 2011'
Scientific paper
Radio continuum observations of barred galaxies revealed strong magnetic fields of >= 50-100 muG in the circumnuclear starbursts. Such fields are dynamically important and give rise to magnetic stress that causes inflow of gas towards the center at a rate of several solar masses per year, possibly along the spiral field seen in radio polarization and as optical dust lanes. This may solve the long-standing question of how to feed active nuclei, and explain the relation between the bolometric luminosity of AGN nuclei and the star-formation rate of their hosts. The strong magnetic fields generated in young galaxies may serve as the link between star formation and accretion onto supermassive black holes. -- Magnetic fields of >= 160 muG strength were measured in the central region of the almost edge-on starburst galaxy NGC 253. Four filaments emerging from the inner disk delineate the boundaries of the central outflow cone of hot gas. Strong Faraday rotation of the polarized emission from the background disk indicates a large-scale helical field in the outflow walls.
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