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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Astrophysics and Astronomy

Kennesaw State University

Magnetic fields

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Evidence Of A Weak Galactic Center Magnetic Field From Diffuse Low-Frequency Nonthermal Radio Emission, Ted La Rosa, Crystal L. Brogan, Steven N. Shore, T. Joseph Lazio, Namir E. Kassim, Michael E. Nord Jun 2005

Evidence Of A Weak Galactic Center Magnetic Field From Diffuse Low-Frequency Nonthermal Radio Emission, Ted La Rosa, Crystal L. Brogan, Steven N. Shore, T. Joseph Lazio, Namir E. Kassim, Michael E. Nord

Faculty and Research Publications

New low-frequency 74 and 330 MHz observations of the Galactic center (GC) region reveal the presence of a large-scale (6° × 2°) diffuse source of nonthermal synchrotron emission. A minimum-energy analysis of this emission yields a total energy of ~(phi4/7f3/7) × 1052 ergs and a magnetic field strength of ~6(phi/f)2/7 μG (where phi is the proton to electron energy ratio and f is the filling factor of the synchrotron emitting gas). The equipartition particle energy density is 1.2(phi/f)2/7 eV cm-3, a value consistent with cosmic-ray data. However, the derived magnetic field is several orders of magnitude below the 1 mG …


New Nonthermal Filaments At The Galactic Center: Are They Tracing A Globally Ordered Magnetic Field?, Ted La Rosa, Michael E. Nord, Joseph W. Lazlo, Namir E. Kassim May 2004

New Nonthermal Filaments At The Galactic Center: Are They Tracing A Globally Ordered Magnetic Field?, Ted La Rosa, Michael E. Nord, Joseph W. Lazlo, Namir E. Kassim

Faculty and Research Publications

New high-resolution, wide-field 90 cm VLA observations of the Galactic center (GC) region by Nord and coworkers have revealed 20 nonthermal filament (NTF) candidates. We report 6 cm polarization observations of six of these. All of the candidates have the expected NTF morphology, and two show extended polarization, confirming their identification as NTFs. One of the new NTFs appears to be part of a system of NTFs located in the Sgr B region, 64 pc in projection north of Sgr A. These filaments cross the Galactic plane with an orientation similar to the filaments in the Galactic center radio arc. …


The Galactic Center Isolated Nonthermal Filaments As Analogs Of Cometary Plasma Tails, Steven N. Shore, Ted La Rosa Aug 1999

The Galactic Center Isolated Nonthermal Filaments As Analogs Of Cometary Plasma Tails, Steven N. Shore, Ted La Rosa

Faculty and Research Publications

We propose a model for the origin of the isolated nonthermal filaments observed at the Galactic center based on an analogy to cometary plasma tails. We invoke the interaction between a large-scale magnetized galactic wind and embedded molecular clouds. As the advected wind magnetic field encounters a dense molecular cloud, it is impeded and drapes around the cloud, ultimately forming a current sheet in the wake. This draped held is further stretched by the wind flow into a long, thin filament the aspect ratio of which is determined by the balance between the dynamical wind and amplified magnetic field pressures. …