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Interstellar: The Galactic Magnetic Field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2016

D. S. Mathewson
D. S. Mathewson*
Affiliation:
Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, Australian National University, Canberra
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Extract

Over a period of one year from March 1967, the 24-inch rotatable telescope at Siding Spring Observatory was used to make polarization measurements for about 1400 stars, most of which were within 400 pc of the Sun. It was found that the E vectors of the polarization formed quite definite patterns on the sky which could only be produced if the magnetic field has a helical structure. Results of model-making showed that the magnetic lines of force form tightly wound right-handed helices of pitch angle 7°. They lie on the surface of tubes which have elliptical cross-sections of axial-ratio 3 with semi-major axes parallel to the galactic plane.

Type
Contributions
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 1 , Issue 5 , March 1969 , pp. 209 - 210
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 1969

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References

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