Studying Galactic and Intergalactic Magnetism with LOFAR

在这个IRES项目中，美国研究生和本科生将在亚利桑那州立大学埃文·斯卡纳皮科教授的指导下，利用欧洲一种引人注目的新射电望远镜--低频阵列(LOFAR)进行宇宙磁性的前沿研究。由于其灵敏度、分辨率和频率覆盖范围，LOFAR将允许比以前的限制条件好几个数量级的磁场测量。在三年的时间里，共有15名美国学生将与德国长波联盟和不来梅雅各布斯大学的马库斯·布鲁根教授合作使用这台仪器，帮助打开一扇了解磁宇宙的新窗口。磁场贯穿宇宙，但人们对其性质知之甚少。在星系尺度上，学生将探索恒星形成和磁性之间的联系，以及围绕星系的磁场的起源。在星系团尺度上，他们将研究高温星系团内介质的未知物理，以及神秘的“无线电遗迹”的演化。在宇宙尺度上，他们将揭示连接所有星系的丝状气体网的磁性。这些项目中的每一个都将不仅为磁性宇宙的结构提供新的线索，还将帮助学生建立必要的专业知识，以便在未来十年将进行的一系列令人印象深刻的国际低频无线电实验中发挥主导作用。

In this IRES project, U.S. graduate and undergraduate students under the direction of Professor Evan Scannapieco at Arizona State University will carry out forefront studies of cosmic magnetism with the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a remarkable new European radio telescope. Due to its sensitivity, resolution, and frequency coverage, LOFAR will allow for magnetic field measurements that are orders of magnitude better than previous constraints. Over the course of three years, a total of 15 U.S. students will make use of this instrument in collaboration with the German Long Wavelength Consortium and Prof. Marcus Brüggen of Jacobs University in Bremen, helping to open a new window on the magnetic universe.Magnetic fields thread the universe, yet very little is known about their properties. On galaxy scales, students will probe the connection between star formation and magnetism and the origin of the magnetic fields that surround galaxies. On galaxy cluster scales, they will study the unknown physics of the hot intracluster medium and the evolution of the mysterious "radio relics." On cosmic scales, they will uncover the magnetic properties of the filamentary web of gas that connects all galaxies. Each of these projects will not only shed new light on the structure of the magnetic universe, but help students to build the expertise necessary to play a leading role in the impressive series of international, low-frequency radio experiments that will take place over the next decade.