Collaborative Research: Cosmic magnetic fields: origin, evolution, and signatures

合作研究：宇宙磁场：起源、演化和特征

• 批准号: 1109180
• 负责人: Tina Kahniashvili
• 金额: $ 45万
• 依托单位: Carnegie-Mellon University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1109180&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Cosmic; magnetic; fields

AST-1109180/1109275/1108790Kahniashvili/Ratra/KosowskyObservations show that galaxies have magnetic fields with a component that is coherent over a large fraction of the galaxy, with defined field strength and coherence scale. Understanding the origin of these fields is one of the more challenging questions of modern astrophysics. There are currently two pictures: a bottom-up (astrophysical) one, generating the seed field on smaller scales, and a top-down (cosmological) version, generating the seed field prior to galaxy formation on scales that are now large. This project aims to answer several relevant questions: (i) How and when was the magnetic field generated? (ii) How does it evolve during the expansion of the universe? (iii) Can the amplitude and statistical properties of this seed magnetic field explain the properties of the observed magnetic fields in large-scale structures? (iv) Is the seed magnetic field detectable through cosmological observations? And if so, (v) what are the observational constraints on such a primordial magnetic field?The interdisciplinary project divides into the following related parts: (1) determining intergalactic magnetic field limits from currently available data; (2) studying cosmological large-scale correlated magnetic field generation mechanisms; (3) numerically studying the evolution of the magnetic field during the expansion of the universe; (4) numerically studying seed magnetic field amplification and dynamics during galaxy formation; and (5) predicting observable signatures of a cosmological seed magnetic field. This unique team of experts will significantly improve the current understanding of the origin, evolution, observational limits, and predicted signatures, of a cosmic magnetic field. The research includes important work in high energy physics, data analysis and interpretation, numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic processes, and galaxy and early structure formation. Perhaps most importantly, there is a chance to establish that observations demand a cosmological magnetic field that cannot be generated by any mechanism operating within the confines of the Standard Model of particle physics.The educational aspects include the training of undergraduate and graduate students. A vigorous education and public outreach program involves the North Central Kansas Astronomical Society, the KSU Center for the Understanding of Origins, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School (Manhattan, Kansas), Allegheny Observatory at the University of Pittsburgh, the Stanford University 'Splash!' events for high school students, and Pittsburg State University outreach events. And, as part of an international collaboration, the primary PI will conduct cosmology education sessions for undergraduate students at Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, Georgia.

AST-11109180/1109275/1108790KAHNIASHVILI/RATRA/KOSOWSKYKOBSERVITATIONS显示，星系具有磁场，其组件具有相干的星系，具有明确的场强和相干尺度。 了解这些领域的起源是现代天体物理学更具挑战性的问题之一。 当前有两张图片：一个自下而上的（天体物理），一张，在较小的尺度上产生种子场，以及自上而下的（宇宙学）版本，在银河系形成之前在现在大的尺度上生成种子场。 该项目旨在回答几个相关问题：（i）磁场是如何以及何时产生的？ （ii）它在宇宙的扩展过程中如何发展？ （iii）该种子磁场的幅度和统计特性可以解释大规模结构中观察到的磁场的特性吗？ （iv）种子磁场是否可以通过宇宙学观测检测到？如果是这样，（v）这种原始磁场上的观察性约束是什么？跨学科项目将其分为以下相关部分：（1）从当前可用的数据中确定间缘型磁场限制； （2）研究宇宙学大规模相关磁场产生机制； （3）在宇宙扩张期间数值研究磁场的演变； （4）在银河系形成过程中，数值研究种子磁场扩增和动力学； （5）预测宇宙种子磁场的可观察到的特征。 这个独特的专家团队将显着提高对宇宙磁场的起源，进化，观察限制和预测签名的当前理解。 该研究包括高能量物理学，数据分析和解释，磁流失过程的数值模拟以及银河系和早期结构形成的重要工作。 也许最重要的是，有机会确定观察结果需要一个宇宙学磁场，该磁场无法由在粒子物理标准模型的范围内运行的任何机制产生。教育方面包括对本科生和研究生的培训。 一项激烈的教育和公共宣传计划涉及堪萨斯州北部天文学会，KSU原始理解中心，西奥多·罗斯福小学（堪萨斯州曼哈顿），匹兹堡大学的阿勒格尼天文台，斯坦福大学“ Splash！”高中生和匹兹堡州立大学外展活动的活动。 而且，作为国际合作的一部分，主要的PI将为佐治亚州Abastumani天体天文台的本科生进行宇宙学教育课程。