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Title:
Magnetic Fields in Irregular Galaxies: NGC 4214
Authors:
Kepley, Amanda A.; Wilcots, E. M.; Robishaw, T.; Heiles, C.; Zweibel, E.
Affiliation:
AA(Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison), AB(Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison), AC(University of California-Berkeley), AD(University of California-Berkeley), AE(Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)
Publication:
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #167.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.1135
Publication Date:
12/2006
Origin:
AAS
Bibliographic Code:
2006AAS...20916701K

Abstract

Magnetic fields are an important component of the interstellar medium of galaxies. They provide support, transfer energy from supernovae, provide a possible heating mechanism, and channel gas flows (Beck 2004). Despite the importance of magnetic fields in the ISM, it is not well known what generates and sustains galactic magnetic fields or how magnetic fields, gas, and stars interact in galaxies. The magnetic fields may be especially important in low-mass galaxies like irregulars where the magnetic pressure may be great enough for the field to be dynamically important. However, only four irregular galaxies besides the LMC and the SMC have observed magnetic field structures. The goal of our project is to significantly increase the number of irregular galaxies with observed magnetic field structure. Here we present preliminary results for one of the galaxies in our sample: NGC 4214. Using the VLA and the GBT, we have obtained 3cm, 6cm, and 20cm radio continuum polarization observations of this well-studied galaxy. Our observations allow us to investigate the effects of NGC 4214's high star formation rate, slow rotation rate, and weak bar on the structure of its magnetic field. We find that NGC 4214's magnetic field has an S-shaped structure, with the central field following the bar and the outer edges curving to follow the shape of the arms. The mechanism for generating these fields is still uncertain.

A. Kepley is funded by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

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