The interstellar magnetic field
Abstract
The most important effects of the interstellar magnetic field on the polarization of radiation are summarized. These include Faraday rotation, synchrotron polarization, starlight polarization, and Zeeman splitting of molecular and recombination lines. Biases in the magnetic fields determined from these effects are discussed along with verification of the existence of the local longitudinal field, observations of the field on the galactic scale, the field in interstellar clouds and very dense nebulae, and random components of the field. It is suggested that the local field near zero deg galactic longitude has probably been disturbed by an explosion, the interior of the Galaxy cannot be characterized by a simple radial or longitudinal field, fields in H I clouds are usually small, and very strong magnetic fields must exist in dense molecular regions and IR nebulae.
- Publication:
-
Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1146/annurev.aa.14.090176.000245
- Bibcode:
- 1976ARA&A..14....1H
- Keywords:
-
- Faraday Effect;
- Interstellar Magnetic Fields;
- Polarization Characteristics;
- Polarized Electromagnetic Radiation;
- Synchrotron Radiation;
- Zeeman Effect;
- Extragalactic Radio Sources;
- Hydrogen Clouds;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Nebulae;
- Pulsars;
- Radiative Recombination;
- Astrophysics