Magnetism
Cosmic Magnetism Working Group Introduction
The Cosmic Magnetism Science Working Group is focused on defining the role of magnetic fields in the physical processes that determine the structure and evolution of the Universe. The SKA’s Rotation Measure Grid survey will establish the origin and evolution of magnetic fields throughout the cosmos.
Magnetic fields are a major agent of energetic processes in various cosmic objects, from star forming regions and stellar remnants, through galaxies, including our own Milky Way, to the large-scale structure of the Universe. Magnetism has long been recognized as a crucial element in these problems, but new technology is required to make the observational progress needed for a full understanding of how these processes unfold in practice.
Radio astronomy provides the most effective probes of cosmic magnetism. The SKA’s revolutionary capability promises to take our study of magnetic fields to a new level of precision, and expand our horizon to distant objects that are inaccessible in sufficient detail today. Specifically, its unrivalled sensitivity and resolving power, combined with wide frequency coverage, makes the SKA ideal for probing magnetism across the Universe through the study of polarized synchrotron emission and its Faraday rotation, and Zeeman splitting.
Related 2015 “Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters
- See appropriate section here
Related 2004 “Science with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters
- “The origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism” Gaensler et al.
- “Magnetic fields in clusters of galaxies” Feretti & Johnston-Hollitt
- “Diffuse radio emission from the intracluster medium” Feretti et al.
Working Group Membership
Members of the the Magnetism Science Working group can be found here
Please contact the co-chairs if you are interested in joining the group.
The current co-chairs are:
- Valentina Vacca (INAF, Italy), valentina.vacca@inaf.it
- Tessa Vernstrom (Univ. of Western Australia, Australia), tessa.vernstrom@uwa.edu.au
Membership details can be found here
Previous Chairs
- George Heald 2017-2022
- Ann Mao 2017-2019
- Russ Taylor 2015-2017
- Melanie Johnston-Hollitt 2013-2016
- Federica Govoni 2013-2015