Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter GalaxyEvol

Friday, 13 September 2024, 14:48   (S21)

Analyzing the Global Magnetic Field Configuration of Edge-On Galaxies with Radio Polarimetry Data

Michael Stein
Ruhr University Bochum

Recent studies have illuminated the critical roles of magnetic fields (B-fields) and cosmic rays (CRs) in the evolution of galaxies and their halos, impacting phenomena ranging from gas dynamics to accretion processes. Understanding these influences is key to advancing our knowledge of the mechanisms driving galactic evolution. Modern radio interferometers, such as the Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) and the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), are invaluable for this purpose, providing detailed observations of CRs and B-fields via synchrotron emission. In edge-on galaxies, magnetic fields often exhibit distinctive “X-shaped” morphologies, suggesting a complex interaction between thermal and non-thermal processes that propel material from the galactic disk into the halo. To investigate the formation of this morphology, three-dimensional analytical models are applied to polarization-angle maps of multiple edge-on galaxies, utilizing data from the CHANG-ES Survey (Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies - an EVLA Survey). Additionally, combined data from the JVLA and LOFAR are used to study cosmic ray transport, shedding light on the relative contributions of CR-driven and thermal processes in galactic winds. Upcoming radio surveys, including those conducted by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and its pathfinders, will enhance our sample size with high angular resolution and full polarization capabilities. These surveys promise to provide a deeper understanding of the magnetization processes in galactic halos.