Optical Polarimetry and the Galactic Magnetic Field

Abstract: Interstellar optical polarization is produced by dust grains aligned by a magnetic field and can be used as a tracer of the latter. We discuss the results of our Interstellar Polarization Survey and what we have learned about the magnetic field structure of the Galaxy at small and large scales and at high Galactic latitudes. The data include the Local Interstellar Medium (ISM) and the nature of the SMC dust and its magnetic field structure. We also look into intriguing data concerning the relationship between the ambient magnetic field direction and that of disks around young stars in the Galaxy.

We describe the numerical tools we are currently developing towards a Galactic Magnetic field model. It combines radio (synchrotron) and optical data and a dust model that may explain the observations. Applications of this model include the interpretation of our optical polarization data towards cosmological fields.

Finally, we describe our plans for SOUTH POL, a forthcoming survey of the whole Southern sky in optical polarized light. SOUTH POL will impact several areas, from Cosmology to Solar System studies.

astrophysicsgeneral relativity and quantum cosmologyinstrumentation and detectors

Audience: researchers in the topic

CENTRA Seminar

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portal.educast.fccn.pt/videos?c=6865