Research on intergalactic magnetic fields and cosmic rays

我提出的研究的目的是推进我们不完整的理解电离气体和磁场之间的相互作用在天体物理学的背景下。我们目前对磁等离子体物理学的不完全理解需要进一步解决河外天文学中的许多重要问题，以及与地球有关的挑战，特别是热核聚变。后者包括磁约束和能量传输出数百万度的聚变等离子体，有一天它将成为世界能源的主要来源。另一个是理解黑洞的能量通过准直的“喷流”转化为磁能，效率为10%或更高。这是现代物理学未解决的基本问题之一。从星系反馈到星系际介质的磁能是我在Disvovery Grant申请中提出的许多研究的核心。了解这些反馈过程对于充分理解和模拟星系系统的形成和宇宙学结构至关重要。 从实验室（和聚变反应堆）到地球磁层和星系间尺度的磁等离子体现象的巨大可扩展性，加上迅速改进的模拟科学，为天体物理磁场的研究创造了重要的机会。尽管它们对技术和知识的未来至关重要，但MHD和等离子体科学在加拿大是一个代表性不足的研究活动。我目前和拟议的研究旨在推进这一重要的知识部门。

The aim of my proposed research is to advance our incomplete understanding of the interactions between ionized gas and magnetic fields in astrophysical contexts. Our currently incomplete understanding of the physics of magneto-plasmas needs to be advanced to solving many important problems in extragalactic astronomy, and Earth-related challenges, in particular thermonuclear fusion. The latter includes magnetic confinement and energy transport out of a the multimillion degree fusion plasma that will one day be a primary source of the world's energy. Another is to understand the  conversion of the black hole infall energy via collimated "jets" into magnetic energy with an efficiency of 10% or more. This is one of the fundamental unsolved problems of modern physics. Magnetic energy feedback out of galaxies into the intergalactic medium is central to much of the research proposed in my Disvovery Grant application. knowledge of these feedback processes are essential to fully understand and simulate the formation of galaxy systems and cosmological structure.      The enormous scalability of the magneto-plasma phenomena from laboratory (and fusion reactor) on scales of cm - metres, to the earth's magnetosphere and intergalactic scales, combined with rapidly improving simulation science creates important opportunities for the study of astrophysical magnetic fields. Despite their fundamental importance for the future of technology and knowledge, MHD and plasma science is an underrepresented reseach activity in Canada. My present and proposed research is aimed at advancing this important knowledge sector.