Radio Polarimetry: A New Window on the Magnetic Universe

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One of the many remarkable discoveries made by 20th century astronomers was that stars, planets, galaxies, and even diffuse interstellar gas, are all magnetic. These cosmic magnetic fields play a vital role in controlling how stars and galaxies form, age and evolve. In addition, this naturally occurring magnetism regulates solar activity and space weather, protects the Earth from harmful particles, and is vital for the navigation of birds and other species.****However, in spite of the importance and ubiquity of astrophysical magnets, we do not understand what creates them, or how they maintain their strength over billions of years of cosmic time. And unfortunately, magnetic fields are invisible even to the largest telescopes.****With modern radio telescopes, we can finally open the window to this magnetic Universe. In this project, I will use an effect called "Faraday rotation", in which radio light from a background object is subtly changed when it passes through a cloud of gas in which significant magnetism is present. By measuring Faraday rotation in the radio emission from millions of faint, distant, galaxies, I aim to detect magnetic fields throughout the cosmos. The resulting three-dimensional maps of magnetism in interstellar gas, in distant galaxies and in intergalactic space will reveal what cosmic magnetics look like, where they have came from, and what role they have played in the evolving Universe.****An additional important goal is to test the techniques and technology needed for the Square Kilometre Array, a multi-billion dollar project that promises enormous scientific, engineering and economic opportunities for Canada. By training the next generation of radio astronomers, I aim to develop a critical mass of graduates who are not only outstanding scientists, but who have a deep understanding of the underlying instrumental and technical issues. Through their unique expertise across astrophysics, instrumentation and software development, these researchers will be ready to lead the major scientific programs on the Square Kilometre Array, and to thus answer fundamental questions in physics and astrophysics.**