FOR 1254: Magnetisation of Interstellar and Intergalactic Media: The Prospects of Low-Frequency Radio Observations

LOFAR，即低频阵列，是荷兰、德国和其他欧洲国家正在建设的新一代射电望远镜。它目前正在逐步发挥作用。由于对越来越高的无线电频率的研究，它前所未有的灵敏度和角度分辨率将为研究低频天空打开一扇新的窗口，这在过去很大程度上被忽视了。德国已经有一个LOFAR站在运作，另外有四个站得到资助，在欧洲扩大LOFAR和发展长期基线观测方面起了带头作用。“宇宙磁学”是由德国科学家牵头的“宇宙磁学计划”六大重点科学项目之一。同步加速器极化是这个关键项目的主要工具之一。低频偏振观测具有挑战性，需要仔细的观测、校准和数据分析工具。从调试阶段（2010年初）和从完整的LOFAR阵列（2010/11）获得的预期数据将允许研究银河系、附近星系和星系团中弱的、扩展的磁场的分布和起源，并可能首次探测到星系间细丝的磁场。该研究股将建立一个由经验丰富的德国科学家组成的网络，以便为极化观测和宇宙磁学研究准备LOFAR。

LOFAR, the Low Frequency Array, is a new-generation radio telescope under construction in the Netherlands, Germany and other European countries. It is currently becoming operational incrementally. Its unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution will open a new window to the low-frequency sky that has been largely neglected in the past, owing to the quest for investigations at higher and higher radio frequencies. With one LOFAR station already operational and four more funded stations, Germany took the lead in the European expansion of LOFAR and in the development of long-baseline observations. "Cosmic Magnetism" is one of six Key Science Projects of LOFAR and is led by German scientists. Synchrotron polarisation is one of the main tools of this key project. Low-frequency polarisation observations are challenging and require careful tools for observation, calibration and data analysis. The expected data from the commissioning phase (beginning of 2010) and from the full LOFAR array (2010/11) will allow to investigate the distribution and origin of weak, extended magnetic fields in the Milky Way, nearby galaxies and galaxy clusters, and possibly detect magnetic fields from intergalactic filaments for the first time. The Research Unit is to establish a network of experienced German scientists to prepare LOFAR for polarisation observations and for studies of cosmic magnetism.