TUNA Lunch Talk:

Amanda Kepley

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Investigating magnetic fields in irregular galaxies using the VLA and GBT

March 6

12:10PM, Room 311, NRAO, Edgemont Road

Abstract:

Magnetic fields are a crucial component of the interstellar medium in galaxies, especially in low-mass galaxies like irregulars where the magnetic pressure may be great enough to be dynamically important. However, only four irregular galaxies besides the LMC and the SMC, have observed magnetic field structures. The goal of our project is to significantly increase the number of irregular galaxies with observed magnetic field structure. Using the VLA and the GBT, we have obtained 3cm, 6cm, and 20cm radio continuum polarization observations for several irregular galaxies. Here we present preliminary results for one of the galaxies in our sample: NGC 4214.