Hauptinhalt

Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Kolloquium Fachbereich Physik

Veranstaltungsdaten

Galactic and Extragalactic Magnetic Fields

Most of the Universe is a plasma in which magnetic fields can be generated on all spatial scales. I will report the astronomical tools used to trace cosmic magnetic fields, determine their structure and derive field strengths, with brief remarks on their generation on the different scales. Starting out from the solar system, we shall explore the various scales, from star-forming regions and supernova remnants in the Milky Way to external galaxies. Here, we shall see the fundamental differences between normal star-forming galaxies and those possessing active galactic nuclei. We then proceed to the largest known magnetic-field structures in the Universe, viz. large-scale fields in clusters of galaxies, extending over millions of light years. Finally, the possible origin of primordial magnetic fields will be briefly discussed.