Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Nov 1987
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987a%26a...186...95b&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 186, no. 1-2, Nov. 1987, p. 95-98.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
23
Astronomical Spectroscopy, Emission Spectra, Galactic Structure, Interstellar Magnetic Fields, Radio Spectra, Continuous Spectra, Faraday Effect, Linear Polarization, Spiral Galaxies
Scientific paper
Linearly polarized radio continuum emission at 6.3 cm wavelength has been observed in M51 with the Effelsberg 100-m telescope. The combination of these data with the λ21.2 cm Westerbork observations yields the distribution of rotation measures. The mean value is RM = 13±6 rad/m2, without significant variations with azimuthal angle in the plane of M51. The magnetic field lines follow the optical spiral arms. As the present data do not give the direction of the magnetic field, the question whether the field structure is axisymmetric or bisymmetric cannot be answered. Recently published optical polarization data agree with the radio data within the eastern and southern quadrants of M51. In these regions the same magnetic field that gives rise to the radio synchrotron emission also aligns the dust grains. In the western quadrant of the galaxy the field lines as derived from radio and optical data seem to diverge by up to 60°.
Beck Rainer
Klein Ulf
Wielebinski Richard
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