An international squad of astronomers was able to measure out the magnetic champaign of a galaxy 4.6 billion light - year from Earth .
This sinful observation was possible thanks to a rare galactic alignment that produced a gravitative lens . The foreground galaxy is monumental enough to buckle space meter and distort the light of a much more distant quasar , cleave its image in two . The quasar light source was used to evaluate the magnetic field of the foreground Galax urceolata .
As cover inNature Astronomy , the researcher used wireless telescopes to study how the magnetic field of honor of the galax was affecting the direction in which the photons were oscillating , namely the polarization of light . By measuring the polarisation , the team was able to assess the lastingness of the magnetic field of battle and get a glimpse at its shaping .
“ The polarization of the wafture coming from the desktop quasar , unite with the fact that the waves bring forth the two lensed double traveled through different parts of the intervene galaxy , allowed us to learn some crucial facts about the galaxy ’s magnetic discipline , ” lead generator , Dr. Sui Ann Mao from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy , said in astatement .
The study was acquit with the National Science Foundation ’s Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array ( VLA ) . Having two images of the same quasars meant that the research worker could value the magnetic field at opposite face of the galaxy . measure from the two images showed a significant difference between the lensing region of the galaxy .
“ The difference tells us that this galaxy has a large - scale , coherent magnetic field , like to those we see in nearby galaxies in the present - daylight universe , ” Mao added . “ The results of our study endorse the idea that galaxy magnetized theatre are generated by a rotating dynamo effect , similar to the process that bring out the Sun ’s magnetic subject . ”
This an intriguing finding . Our knowledge of galactic magnetic fields is somewhat modified as they are passing hard to measure out . Astronomers believe that adynamo scenariois the most likely but they are keeping their options open .
“ There are other processes that might be producing the magnetic fields . To determine which process is at work , we need to go still farther back in time – to more distant galax – and make similar mensuration of their magnetic fields , ” she concluded . The furthermost that astronomers have been able-bodied to assess magnetic field is in36 wandflower , 10 billion light-headed years forth from Earth .
Understanding astronomic charismatic field of battle might avail us understand better how galaxies evolve over time .
