The magnetic field in the dust ring at the center of the galaxy

R. H. Hildebrand*, D. P. Gonatas, S. R. Platt, X. D. Wu, J. A. Davidson, M. W. Werner, G. Novak, M. Morris

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present measurements of the polarization of the far-infrared thermal emission from six points in the dust ring at Sgr A. The position angles are approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the ring as projected on the sky. The inferred magnetic field is therefore approximately in the plane of the ring. The pattern traced by the polarization vectors resembles that expected for a magnetic accretion disk. The measurements indicate a field in which the outward radial component is much greater than the axial component at the surface of the disk. The field thus appears to satisfy the condition proposed by Blandford and Payne for removing energy and angular momentum through centrifugal acceleration of surface material moving along the field lines.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)114-119
Number of pages6
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume362
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 10 1990

Keywords

  • Galaxies: The Galaxy
  • Galaxies: nuclei
  • Interstellar: grains
  • Interstellar: magnetic fields
  • Polarization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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