The Role of Magnetic Fields in the Interstellar Medium of the Milky Way

Synchrotron radiation is generated throughout the Milky Way. It fills the sky, and carries with it the imprint of the magnetic field at the point of origin and along the propagation path. Observations of the diffuse polarized radio emission should be able to provide information on Galactic magnetic fields with detail matching the angular resolution of the telescope. I review what has been learned from existing data, but the full potential cannot be realized from current observations because they do not adequately sample the frequency structure of the polarized emission, or they lack information on large-scale structure. I discuss three surveys, each overcoming one of these limitations, and show how use of complementary data on other ISM tracers can help elucidate the role of magnetic fields in interstellar processes. The focus of this review is on the small-scale field, on sizes comparable with the various forms of interaction of stars with their surroundings. The future is bright for this field of research as new telescopes are being built, designed for the survey mode of observation, equipped for wideband, multichannel polarization observations.     

Multi-Scale Plasma Turbulence in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium

I discuss how radioastronomical observations can provide information on the turbulence that governs the propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy. Interstellar radio wave propagation effects, collectively referred to as interstellar scintillations, yield information on the spatial power spectra of fluctuations in plasma density and magnetic field. Results of relevance to cosmic-ray physics are the existence of interstellar turbulence over a wide range of spatial scales (which can thus interact with a wide range of cosmic ray energies), the detection of magnetic field fluctuations in association with this turbulence, and a change in the nature of the turbulence on spatial scales of about 3.5 parsecs. A number of mysteries remain, such as the apparent suppression of Fast Magnetosonic wave generation by the interstellar turbulence.     

The Magnetic Field of the Milky Way from Faraday Rotation of Pulsars and Extragalactic Sources

Faraday rotation towards polarised pulsars and extragalactic sources is the best observable for determining the configuration of the magnetic field of the Galaxy in its plane and also at high latitudes. The Galactic magnetic field plays an important role in numerous astrophysical processes, including star formation and propagation of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays; it is also an important component in measurements of the cosmological microwave background. This review article provides a brief overview of the latest advancements in the field, from an observer’s point of view. The most recent results based on pulsar rotation measures are discussed, which show that we have begun to confidently resolve the main features of the Galactic magnetic field on kiloparsec scales, both in the Solar neighbourhood and at larger distances. As we are currently in great anticipation of polarisation observations with new, state-of-the-art telescopes and hardware, a brief overview of how much this field of research will benefit from the upcoming pulsar surveys is also given.     

An Overview of Results From rpi on Image

The Radio Plasma Imager (RPI) on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft was designed as a long-range magnetospheric radio sounder, relaxation sounder, and a passive plasma wave instrument. The RPI is a highly flexible instrument that can be programmed to perform these types of measurements at times when IMAGE is located in key regions of the magnetosphere. RPI is the first radio sounder ever flown to large radial distances into the magnetosphere. The long-range sounder echoes from RPI allow remote sensing of a variety of plasmas structures and boundaries in the magnetosphere. A profile inversion technique for RPI echo traces has been developed and provides a method for determining the density distribution of the plasma from either direct or field-aligned echoes. This technique has enabled the determination of the evolving density structure of the polar cap and the plasmasphere under a variety of geomagnetic conditions. New results from RPI show that the plasmasphere refills in slightly greater than a day at L values of 2.8 and that ion heating is probably playing a major role in the overall density distribution along the field-line. In addition, RPI's plasma resonance observations at large radial distances over the polar cap provided in situ measurements of the plasma density with an accuracy of a few percent. For the first time in the magnetosphere, RPI has also observed the plasma D resonances. RPI's long antennas and its very low noise receivers provide excellent observations in the passive receive-only mode when the instrument measures the thermal plasma noise as well as natural emissions such as the continuum radiation and auroral kilometric radiation (AKR). Recent passive measurements from RPI have been compared extensively with images from the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) imager on IMAGE resulting in a number of new discoveries. For instance, these combined observations show that kilometric continuum can be generated at the plasmapause from sources in or very near the magnetic equator, within a bite-out region of the plasmasphere. The process by which plasmaspheric bite-out structures are produced is not completely understood at this time. Finally, RPI has been used to successfully test the feasibility of magnetospheric tomography. During perigee passages of the Wind spacecraft, RPI radio transmissions at one and two frequencies have been observed by the Waves instrument. The received electric field vector was observed to rotate with time due to the changing density of plasma, and thus Faraday rotation was measured. Many future multi-spacecraft missions propose to use Faraday rotation to obtain global density pictures of the magnetosphere.     

Cosmic Ray Isotopic Composition Studies with the Ulysses High Energy Telescope: Implications for Origin and Distribution in the Galaxy

The isotopic abundances of the Galactic cosmic radiation measured in the Heliosphere provide unique information on acceleration, propagation modes and containment times in the Galactic magnetic fields. Nuclear interactions with interstellar matter lead to observable γ-radiation production and, thus, to direct information on cosmic ray distribution throughout the Galaxy and its magnetic halo. The COSPIN High Energy Telescope (HET) has excellent isotopic resolution from hydrogen to nickel over the ten year period of Ulysses in space. Based on our recent work, we discuss the implications for modeling the acceleration and propagation of the cosmic radiation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Satellite observations of type III solar radio bursts at low frequencies

Type III solar radio bursts have been observed from 10 MHz to 10 kHz by satellite experiments above the terrestrial plasmasphere. Solar radio emission in this frequency range results from excitation of the interplanetary plasma by energetic particles propagating outward along open field lines over distances from 5 R to at least 1 AU from the Sun. This review summarizes the morphology, characteristics and analysis of individual as well as storms of bursts. Substantial evidence is available to show that the radio emission is observed at the second harmonic instead of the fundamental of the plasma frequency. This brings the density scale derived by radio observations into better agreement with direct solar wind density measurements at 1 AU and relaxes the requirement for type III propagation along large density-enhanced regions. This density scale with the measured direction of arrival of the radio burst allows the trajectory of the exciter path to be determined from 10 R to 1 AU. Thus, for example, the dynamics and gross structure of the interplanetary magnetic field can be investigated by this method. Burst rise times are interpreted in terms of exciter length and dispersion while decay times refer to the radiation damping process. The combination of radio observations at the lower frequencies and in-situ measurements on non-relativistic electrons at 1 AU provide data on the energy range and efficiency of the wave-particle interactions responsible for the radio emission.     

Prediction of noise radiation from basic configurations of landing gears by means of computational aeroacoustics

Noise radiation from aircraft during the takeoff and landing has become a major issue for inhabitants living in the vicinity of airports and thus for regulation authorities and aircraft developers. However the numerical simulation of aeroacoustic noise, especially for complex geometries like a landing gear, remains one of the most difficult challenges in aeroacoustics. The present study, aiming at predicting noise radiation from basic geometries as well as the noise radiation of a simplified landing gear, employs a hybrid approach that combines a CFD simulation with the decoupled computational aeroacoustics (CAA) simulation. Flow-induced noise is assumed to originate from turbulence. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with different closure approaches can be employed to gain the required turbulent quantities. Subsequently, quantities as the mean flow velocities, pressure, density, turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate of the CFD simulation are the starting point for the generation of the transient acoustic sources by the stochastic noise generation and radiation (SNGR) method. It is assumed that the acoustic phenomena do not provide feedback to the mean flow field and turbulence and thus a recalculation of the flow field is not required. Since the propagation of sound is insignificantly influenced by turbulent and viscous effects, it can be described by the Euler equations in the near field. The CAA simulation is extended with a Ffowcs Williams Hawkings (FWH) module that calculates the noise levels in the far field upon integrating the surface source terms on a porous FWH surface within the CAA domain. The results of the simulations are compared with experimental data, obtained by measurements in an acoustic wind tunnel.     

Observations of Extended Radio Emission in Clusters

We review observations of extended regions of radio emission in clusters; these include diffuse emission in ‘relics’, and the large central regions commonly referred to as ‘halos’. The spectral observations, as well as Faraday rotation measurements of background and cluster radio sources, provide the main evidence for large-scale intracluster magnetic fields and significant densities of relativistic electrons. Implications from these observations on acceleration mechanisms of these electrons are reviewed, including turbulent and shock acceleration, and also the origin of some of the electrons in collisions of relativistic protons by ambient protons in the (thermal) gas. Improved knowledge of non-thermal phenomena in clusters requires more extensive and detailed radio measurements; we briefly review prospects for future observations.     

Galileo radio science investigations

The radio science investigations planned for Galileo's 6-year flight to and 2-year orbit of Jupiter use as their instrument the dual-frequency radio system on the spacecraft operating in conjunction with various US and German tracking stations on Earth. The planned radio propagation experiments are based on measurements of absolute and differential propagation time delay, differential phase delay, Doppler shift, signal strength, and polarization. These measurements will be used to study: the atmospheric and ionospheric structure, constituents, and dynamics of Jupiter; the magnetic field of Jupiter; the diameter of Io, its ionospheric structure, and the distribution of plasma in the Io torus; the diameters of the other Galilean satellites, certain properties of their surfaces, and possibly their atmospheres and ionospheres; and the plasma dynamics and magnetic field of the solar corona. The spacecraft system used for these investigations is based on Voyager heritage but with several important additions and modifications that provide linear rather than circular polarization on the S-band downlink signal, the capability to receive X-band uplink signals, and a differential downlink ranging mode. Collaboration between the investigators and the space-craft communications engineers has resulted in the first highly-stable, dual-frequency, spacecraft radio system suitable for simultaneous measurements of all the parameters normally attributed to radio waves.     

Galactic and Extragalactic Magnetic Fields

The current state of research of the Galactic magnetic field is reviewed critically. The average strength of the total field derived from radio synchrotron data, under the energy equipartition assumption, is 6±2 G locally and about 10±3 G at 3 kpc Galactic radius. These values agree well with the estimates using the locally measured cosmic-ray energy spectrum and the radial variation of protons derived from -rays. Optical and synchrotron polarization data yield a strength of the local regular field of 4±1 G, but this value is an upper limit if the field strength fluctuates within the beam or if anisotropic fields are present. Pulsar rotation measures, on the other hand, give only 1.4±0.2 G, a lower limit if fluctuations in regular field strength and thermal electron density are anticorrelated along the pathlength. The local regular field may be part of a `magnetic arm between the optical arms. However, the global structure of the regular Galactic field is not yet known. Several large-scale field reversals in the Galaxy were detected from rotation measure data, but a similar phenomenon was not observed in external galaxies. The Galactic field may be young in terms of dynamo action so that reversals from the chaotic seed field are preserved, or a mixture of dynamo modes causes the reversals, or the reversals are signatures of large-scale anisotropic field loops. The Galaxy is surrounded by a thick disk of radio continuum emission of similar extent as in edge-on spiral galaxies. While the local field in the thin disk is of even symmetry with respect to the plane (quadrupole), the global thick-disk field may be of dipole type. The Galactic center region hosts highly regular fields of up to milligauss strength which are oriented perpendicular to the plane. A major extension of the data base of pulsar rotation measures and Zeeman splitting measurements is required to determine the structure of the Galactic field. Further polarization surveys of the Galactic plane at wavelengths of 6 cm or shorter may directly reveal the fine structure of the local magnetic field.     

Non-relativistic solar electrons

This review summarizes both the direct spacecraft observations of non-relativistic solar electrons, and observations of the X-ray and radio emission generated by these particles at the Sun and in the interplanetary medium. These observations bear on three physical processes basic to energetic particle phenomena: (1) the acceleration of particles in tenuous plasmas; (2) the propagation of energetic charged particles in a disordered magnetic field, and (3) the interaction of energetic charged particles with tenuous plasmas to produce electromagnetic radiation. Because these electrons are frequently accelerated and emitted by the Sun, mostly in small and relatively simple flares, it is possible to define a detailed physical picture of these processes.In many small solar flares non-relativistic electrons accelerated during flash phase constitute the bulk of the total flare energy. Thus the basic flare mechanism in these flares essentially converts the available flare energy into fast electrons. Non-relativistic electrons exhibit a wide variety of propagation modes in the interplanetary medium, ranging from diffusive to essentially scatter-free. This variability in the propagation may be explained in terms of the distribution of interplanetary magnetic field fluctuations. Type III solar radio burst emission is generated by these electrons as they travel out to 1 AU and beyond. Recent in situ observations of these electrons at 1 AU, accompanied by simultaneous observations of the low frequency radio emission generated by them at 1 AU provide quantitative information on the plasma processes involved in the generation of type III bursts.     

On the application of the boundary element method in coronal magnetic field reconstruction

Solar magnetic field is believed to play a central role in solar activities and flares, filament eruptions as well as CMEs are due to the magnetic field re-organization and the interaction between the plasma and the field. At present the reliable magnetic field measurements are still confined to a few lower levels like in photosphere and chromosphere. Although IR technique may be applied to observe the coronal field but the technique is not well-established yet. Radio techniques may be applied to diagnose the coronal field but assumptions on radiation mechanisms and propagations are needed. Therefore extrapolation from photospheric data upwards is still the primary method to reconstruction coronal field. Potential field has minimum energy content and a force-free field can provide the required excess energy for energy release like flares, etc. Linear models have undesirable properties and it is expected to consider non-constant-alpha force-free field model. As the recent result indicates that the plasma beta is sandwich-ed distributed above the solar surface (Gary, 2001), care must be taken in modeling the coronal field correctly. As the reconstruction of solar coronal magnetic fields is an open boundary problem, it is desired to apply some technique that can incorporate this property. The boundary element method is a well-established numerical techniques that has been applied to many fields including open-space problems. It has also been applied to solar magnetic field problems for potential, linear force-free field and non-constant-alpha force-free field problems. It may also be extended to consider the non-force-free field problem. Here we introduce the procedure of the boundary element method and show its applications in reconstruction of solar magnetic field problems. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The origin of cosmic rays in spiral galaxies

The problem of the origin and distribution of cosmic rays in the Galaxy is introduced by summarizing the literature on the radio and -ray studies of the Galaxy, discussing the propagation of cosmic rays in the interstellar medium, and listing the observed properties of cosmic rays. The localization of cosmic-ray electrons to their parent galaxies is an indicator that processes leading to cosmic-ray production may be common to galaxies like our own. The studies of external galaxies are therefore relevant to our own and have the advantage of better perspective.Studies of cosmic rays in exsternal galaxies are limited to the electron component which radiates synchrotron emission at radio frequencies. Multi-colour photometry of galaxies allows the separation of stellar populations that harbour particular classes of cosmic-ray sources. Statistical studies aimed at correlating integrated radio and optical properties of galaxies have reached conflicting conclusions. Although a correlation of cosmic rays with the older stellar population is proposed by some authors, others argue that the young stellar population harbours cosmic ray sources.Morphological studies of resolved galaxies provide information on the distributions of cosmic-ray electrons in galaxies. Studies in which the resolution of the radio images is much lower than in the optical are limited and have also produced contradictory results. Radio imaging at optical resolution is required for a direct comparison of cosmic-ray distributions with stellar distributions. Such studies are reviewed and the constraints they impose on cosmic-ray propagation and distribution of cosmic-ray sources is discussed.Theoretical cosmic-ray acceleration mechanisms are surveyed and an attempt is made to determine likely contributors. Mechanisms associated with shock waves in a variety of astrophysical settings are reviewed. Acceleration mechanisms not involving shocks, are also discussed. Finally, the status of the field is summarized along with some speculation on the future directions the field may take.     

Thermal cyclotron radiation from a hot coronal loop with helical magnetic field

The spectral and polarization properties of thermal cyclotron radio emission from a hot coronal loop with a current along the axis are computed. The magnetic field is supposed to have a component along the loop axis as well as a poloidal part due to the current, both components being of comparable magnitude. In this specific configuration a helical magnetic field is present with a remarkable minimum of its absolute value along the loop axis and a maximum at its periphery. The presence of one or two maxima of magnetic field value along the line of sight results in increasing optical thickness of the gyroresonance layers at appropriate frequencies in the microwave band and, therefore, in enhanced radio emission at those harmonics which are optically thin (for example,s=4). These cannot be observed in models with the commonly employed magnetic field configuration (longitudinal along the loop axis).We show that the frequency spectrum of thermal cyclotron radiation from a hot coronal loop with a helical magnetic field differs from that of the standards-component source (with smooth frequency characteristics and polarization corresponding toe-mode) in that plenty of fine structures (line-like features and cut-offs) are present and theo-mode is prevalent in some frequency intervals. The enhanced radio emission at high harmonics and the complicated form of frequency spectrum in the model considered imply that some microwave sources, which are poorly explained in traditional models of solar active regions, may be associated with helical magnetic fields in hot coronal loops. Computations allow one to indicate spectral and polarizational peculiarities of local sources testifying to the presence of a helical magnetic field.     

Schumann Resonances as a Means of Investigating the Electromagnetic Environment in the Solar System

The propagation of extremely low frequency (ELF, 3 Hz to 3 kHz) radio waves and resonant phenomena in the spherical Earth-ionosphere cavity has been studied for almost fifty years. When such a cavity is excited by naturally occurring broadband electromagnetic radiation, resonances can develop if the equatorial circumference is approximately equal to an integral number of wavelengths of the propagating electromagnetic waves; these are termed Schumann resonances. They provide information not only about thunderstorm and lightning activity on the Earth, and their relation to climate, but also on the properties of the low ionosphere. Similar investigations can be performed for any other planet or satellite, provided that it has an ionosphere. There are important differences between the Earth and other celestial bodies regarding, for example, the surface conductivity, the atmospheric conductivity profile, the geometry of the ionospheric cavity, and the sources of excitation. To a first approximation, the size of the cavity defines the fundamental resonant frequency, the atmospheric electron density profile controls the wave attenuation, the nature of the sources influences the electromagnetic field distribution in the cavity, and the body surface conductivity indicates to what extent the subsurface can be explored. The frequencies and attenuation rates of the principal eigenmodes depend upon the electrical properties of the cavity. Instruments that monitor the electromagnetic environment in the ELF range on the surface, on balloons, or on descent probes provide unique information on the cavity. In this paper, we present Schumann resonance models for selected inner planets, some gaseous giant planets and a few of their satellites. We review the crucial parameters of ELF electromagnetic waves in their atmospheric cavities, namely the electric and magnetic field spectra, their eigenfrequencies, and the associated Q-factors (damping factors). Then we present important information on theoretical developments, on a general model that uses the finite element method and on the parameterization of the cavity. Next we show the distinctiveness of each planetary environment, and discuss how ELF radio wave propagation can contribute to an assessment of the major characteristics of those planetary environments.     

Radio science investigations with Voyager

The planned radio science investigations during the Voyager missions to the outer planets involve: (1) the use of the radio links to and from the spacecraft for occultation measurements of planetary and satellite atmospheres and ionospheres, the rings of Saturn, the solar corona, and the general-relativistic time delay for radiowave propagation through the Sun's gravity field; (2) radio link measurements of true or apparent spacecraft motion caused by the gravity fields of the planets, the masses of their larger satellites, and characteristics of the interplanetary medium; and (3) related measurements which could provide results in other areas, including the possible detection of long-wavelength gravitational radiation propagating through the Solar System. The measurements will be used to study: atmospheric and ionospheric structure, constituents, and dynamics; the sizes, radial distribution, total mass, and other characteristics of the particles in the rings of Saturn; interior models for the major planets and the mean density and bulk composition of a number of their satellites; the plasma density and dynamics of the solar corona and interplanetary medium; and certain fundamental questions involving gravitation and relativity. The instrumentation for these experiments is the same ground-based and spacecraft radio systems as will be used for tracking and communicating with the Voyager spacecraft, although several important features of these systems have been provided primarily for the radio science investigations.     

Rosetta Radio Science Investigations (RSI)

The Rosetta spacecraft has been successfully launched on 2nd March 2004 to its new target comet 67 P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The science objectives of the Rosetta Radio Science Investigations (RSI) experiment address fundamental aspects of cometary physics such as the mass and bulk density of the nucleus, its gravity field, its interplanetary orbit perturbed by nongravitational forces, its size and shape, its internal structure, the composition and roughness of the nucleus surface, the abundance of large dust grains, the plasma content in the coma and the combined dust and gas mass flux. The masses of two asteroids, Steins and Lutetia, shall be determined during flybys in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Secondary objectives are the radio sounding of the solar corona during the superior conjunctions of the spacecraft with the Sun during the cruise phase. The radio carrier links of the spacecraft Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) subsystem between the orbiter and the Earth will be used for these investigations. An Ultrastable oscillator (USO) connected to both transponders of the radio subsystem serves as a stable frequency reference source for both radio downlinks at X-band (8.4 GHz) and S-band (2.3 GHz) in the one-way mode. The simultaneous and coherent dual-frequency downlinks via the High Gain Antenna (HGA) permit separation of contributions from the classical Doppler shift and the dispersive media effects caused by the motion of the spacecraft with respect to the Earth and the propagation of the signals through the dispersive media, respectively. The investigation relies on the observation of the phase, amplitude, polarization and propagation times of radio signals transmitted from the spacecraft and received with ground station antennas on Earth. The radio signals are affected by the medium through which the signals propagate (atmospheres, ionospheres, interplanetary medium, solar corona), by the gravitational influence of the planet on the spacecraft and finally by the performance of the various systems involved both on the spacecraft and on ground.     

Experimental study of flare-generated collisionless interplanetary shock wave propagation

This paper presents a review of the general properties of flare-generated collisionless interplanetary shock wave propagation, determined from multiple spacecraft plasma and magnetic field observations and by means of interplanetary scintillation of radio sources.An invited paper presented at STIP Workshop on Shock Waves in the Solar Corona and Interplanetary Space, 15–19 June, 1980, Smolenice, Czechoslovakia.     

Atomic Deuterium/Hydrogen in the Galaxy

An accurate value of the D/H ratio in the local interstellar medium (LISM) and a better understanding of the D/H variations with position in the Galactic disk and halo are vitally important questions as they provide information on the primordial D/H ratio in the Galaxy at the time of the protosolar nebula, and the amount of astration and mixing in the Galaxy over time. Recent measurements have been obtained with UV spectrographs on FUSE, HST, and IMAPS using hot white dwarfs, OB stars, and late-type stars as background light sources against which to measure absorption by D and H in the interstellar medium along the lines of sight. Recent analyses of FUSE observations of seven white dwarfs and subdwarfs provide a weighted mean value of D/H = (1.52±0.08) × 10⁻⁵ (15.2 ± 0.8 ppm), consistent with the value of (1.50 ± 0.10) × 10⁻⁵ (15.0 ± 1.0 ppm) obtained from analysis of lines of sight toward nearby late-type stars. Both numbers refer to the ISM within about 100 pc of the Sun, which samples warm clouds located within the Local Bubble. Outside of the Local Bubble at distances of 200 to 500 pc, analyses of far-UV spectra obtained with the IMAPS instrument indicate a much wider range of D/H ratios between 0.8 to 2.2 ppm. This portion of the Galactic disk provides information on inhomogeneous astration in the Galaxy. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.