Milestones in the Observations of Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Magnetic fields are observed everywhere in the universe. In this review, we concentrate on the observational aspects of the magnetic fields of Galactic and extragalactic objects. Readers can follow the milestones in the observations of cosmic magnetic fields obtained from the most important tracers of magnetic fields, namely, the star-light polarization, the Zeeman effect, the rotation measures (RMs, hereafter) of extragalactic radio sources, the pulsar RMs, radio polarization observations, as well as the newly implemented sub-mm and mm polarization capabilities. The magnetic field of the Galaxy was first discovered in 1949 by optical polarization observations. The local magnetic fields within one or two kpc have been well delineated by starlight polarization data. The polarization observations of diffuse Galactic radio background emission in 1962 confirmed unequivocally the existence of a Galactic magnetic field. The bulk of the present information about the magnetic fields in the Galaxy comes from anal     

Magnetic Field in Selected Directions of the Galaxy, Direction of the Spiral Arm of Sagittarius

Faraday rotation data on 40 pulsars are used in a detailed study of the magnetic field and its fluctuations in the direction of the spiral arm of Sagittarius. These results mostly agree with standard models for the galactic magnetic field. A magnetic field on the order of 3.2 G is directed from galactic longitude l ₀=55° (toward the sun). However, an asymmetry has been found in the degrees of rotation relative to a plane lying in the southern hemisphere parallel to the galactic plane and at a distance of 50-60 pc from it. All the pulsars with measures of dispersion greater than 30 pc·cm^-3 and lying to the north of this plane have positive measures of rotation which increase linearly with distance, while the pulsars lying to the south of this plane have unusually absolutely low negative measures of rotation. We propose that the spiral arm of Sagittarius lies entirely to the north of this plane, while the negative measures of rotation of the pulsars below this plane are caused by the magnetic field of the halo of the southern hemisphere of the galaxy. The magnetic field in the arm of Sagittarius is regular to a great extent and its fluctuating component is roughly half the regular component.     

河外射电源变化的观测研究

在本文中评述河外射电源变化的观测进展。首先对几个射电变源的一些专门术语和定义作介绍。然后叙述在整个频谱上各种变化测量的结果，包括流量、频谱和偏振的变化。讨论了ＶＬＢＩ对变化研究的重要影响。简要地触及短时标变化引发的逆康普顿灾变的理论问题，最后，强调指出了多波段同时观测河外射电源在深入了解活动星系核方面的重要作用。     

Distribution of Helical Properties of Solar Magnetic Fields

We summarize studies of helical properties of solar magnetic fields such as current helicity and twist of magnetic fields in solar active regions (ARs), that are observational tracers of the alpha-effect in the solar convective zone (SCZ). Information on their spatial distribution is obtained by analysis of systematic mag-netographic observations of active regions taken at Huairou Solar Observing Station of National Astronomical Observatories of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The main property is that the tracers of the alpha-effect are antisymmetric about the solar equator. Identifying longitudinal migration of active regions with their individual rotation rates and taking into account the internal differential rotation law within the SCZ known from helioseismology, we deduce the distribution of the effect over depth. We have found evidence that the alpha-effect changes its value and sign near the bottom of the SCZ, and this is in accord with the theoretical studies and numerical simulations. We discuss     

Rotation Profiles of Solar-like Stars with Magnetic Fields

We investigate the rotation profile of solar-like stars with magnetic fields. A diffu-sion coefficient of magnetic angular momentum transport is deduced. Rotating stellar models with different mass incorporating the coefficient are computed to give the rotation profiles. The total angular momentum of a solar model with only hydrodynamic instabilities is about 13 times larger than that of the Sun at the age of the Sun, and this model can not reproduce quasi-solid rotation in the radiative region. However, the solar model with magnetic fields not only can reproduce an almost uniform rotation in the radiative region, but also a total angular momentum that is consistent with the helioseismic result at the 3 σ level at the age of the Sun. The rotation of solar-like stars with magnetic fields is almost uniform in the radiative region, but for models of 1.2-1.5 M⊙, there is an obvious transition region between the convective core and the radiative region, where angular velocity has a sharp radial gradient, which is different from the rotation profile of the Sun and of massive stars with magnetic fields. The change of angular velocity in the transition region increases with increasing age and mass.     

三颗河外射电源第一历元的VLBI图像

本文给出利用上海、乌鲁木齐、意大利ＮＯＴＯ和南非ＨａｒｔＲＡＯ射电望远镜,对三颗河外射电源（１５３２＋０１６,２３２００２０,２３５１１５４）,在５ＧＨｚ频率上的第一历元ＶＬＢＩ观测成图结果     

高频VLBI观测射电源的结构

高频VLBI观测揭示出河外射电源在pc或者亚pc尺度上大都有核-喷流的内部结构。尤其是对平谱致密射电源中毫角秒尺度的子源，能以相当高的概率观测到它的视超光速现象。多频观测可监测到一些新喷流子源的出现，特别在射电激变源中这些新喷流子源的出现与宽带内(从光学到γ射线)的爆发相关。且得到的一些源的核区谱指数分布，为确认源的VLBI核提供了支持。     

Magnetic Fields in Star-Forming Regions: Theoretical Aspects

We review the basic theoretical elements leading to our current understanding of the role of magnetic fields in the process of star formation. In particular, we concentrate on: (i) the relevance of the mass-to-flux ratio for the stability of molecular clouds; (ii) the consequences of magnetic flux leakage for the evolution of cloud cores; (iii) the phase of anisotropic dynamical collapse following the formation of strongly peaked density distributions; (iv) the mechanism of magnetic braking as a possible solution to the angular momentum problem in star formation.     

Synergy Between Radio and Optical Telescopes: Optical Followup of Extragalactic Radio Sources

Distance measurement is a must to characterize any source in the sky. In the radio band, it is rarely possible to get distance or redshift measurements. The optical band is the most used band to get distance estimate of sources, even for those originally discovered in other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, the spectroscopic redshift measurements even for fairly bright radio sample is grossly incomplete, implying un-explored discovery space. Here we discuss the scope of optical follow up of radio sources, in particular the radio loud AGNs, from the present generation radio telescopes.     

Coronal Flux Rope Equilibria in Closed Magnetic Fields

Using a 2.5-dimensional ideal MHD model in Cartesian coordinates,we investigate the equilibrium properties of coronal magnetic flux ropes in background magnetic fields that are completely closed.The background fields are produced by a dipole,a quadrupole,and an octapole,respectively,located below the photosphere at the same depth.A magnetic flux rope is then launched from below the photo-sphere,and its magnetic properties,i.e,the annular magnetic fluxφp and the axial magnetic fluxφz,are controlled by a single emergence parameter.The whole sys-tem eventually evolves into equilibrium,and the resultant flux rope is characterized by three geometrical parameters:the height of the rope axis,the half-width of the rope,and the length of the vertical current sheet below the rope.It is found that the geometrical parameters increase monotonically and continuously with increasing φp and φz:no catastrophe occurs.Moreover,there exists a steep segment in the profiles of the geometrical parameters versus either φp or φz,and the faster the background field decays with height,the larger both the gradient and the growth amplitude within the steep segment will be.     

Observing Magnetic Fields in Star-Forming Regions

Magnetic field strengths and directions can be estimated using many different observational techniques that span a wide range of wavelengths. Each observational method favours different regimes of scale size, density and other physical conditions. The available techniques and their ranges of applicability are briefly described and the current status of observations is reviewed, with particular emphasis on high-resolution observations of star-forming regions.     

云南天文台40米射电望远镜河外射电源观测

为了在云南天文台40 m天线上开展射电天文研究,使用它进行了河外射电源流量试观测。通过对河外致密源进行ON/OFF跟踪观测,得到射电源的流量变化曲线。但数据质量并不理想,说明系统存在一些问题。随后,根据对该望远镜系统的稳定性及其无线电环境干扰现状的考察,以及对现存问题的分析,提出了相应的解决方法。     

Spectral Indices of Core and Extended Components of Extragalactic Radio Sources

We use observed peak and total flux densities at 6cm and 20cm to determine the spectral indices separately for the core and extended components of QSOs and galaxies, as well as their core-dominance parameters. Our results indicate that 1) Nine QSOs show both greater than 1.0 core-dominance parameters (those objects should be blazars) and greater than 0.5 spectral indices. The average core spectral index is αCore = 0.85±0.21 for the nine blazars, which implies that it is not reliable to use αradio = 0.0 for blazars. For the different subclasses, the core and extended spectral indices are as follows: for the blazars, αCore = 0.22±0.06 and αExt =0.77±0.12; the galaxies,αCore = 1.01±0.13 and αExt =0.83±0.21, and for the QSOs, αCore = 0.28±0.10 and αExt =0.68±0.08. 2) The core spectral index and core dominance parameter (R) show an anti-correlation, αC = (-1.28±0.26) log R+ (0.65 ± 0.11); 3) R is approximately linearly correlated with redshift (z).     

分子云磁场与尘埃导致的偏振

磁场对分子云及其中的恒星的形成和演化起到重要的作用.分子云磁场的探测方法主要是谱线塞曼效应、尘埃热辐射的偏振,以及谱线的线偏振观测.利用谱线的塞曼效应可以直接测量视线方向的磁场强度.尘埃热辐射偏振可以有效地示踪磁场方向在天球上的分布.分子云内部的磁场会受到不同物理过程的影响.高分辨率观测可以研究磁场扰动的细节,低分辨率观测可以得到分子云甚至银河系大尺度磁场的宏观信息.只有多波段的观测才能全面地认识分子云磁场与各种物理过程的联系.该文对分子云尘埃热辐射偏振的观测情况做了调研,总结了分子云大尺度磁场的研究现状和发展前景.     

南天区20个河外射电源的VLBI研究

本文报道南天区5GHzVLBI普查式观测结果．首次观测是在1992年11月期间进行的，共观测了23个河外射电源，获得了20个河外射电源的VLBI高分辨率的射电图象．有15个射电源呈现核喷流结构，1个有双向喷流，3个未分解，末发现有致密观源．在16个核喷流（包括一个双向喷流源）源中有11个呈现弯曲喷流现象．此外还首次发现有3个源中可能有超光速运动现象．     

太阳AR7646、7647活动区黑子磁场和新的射电微耀斑爆发

１９９４年１月５日日面上产生的１次１Ｎ／Ｍ１．０耀斑爆发，射电１．４２ＧＨｚ高时间分辨率观测也同时接收到，在小爆发过程里伴有５３个脉冲信号叠加在连续辐射背景上，是很罕见的现象。在ＡＲ７６４６的黑子前导区域，５日有２处新浮的小黑子对，磁场分别成细小磁流管平行和交又状态，是产生爆发的根源；脉冲信号是微耀斑在射电方面的瞬时辐射现象，由耀斑连续产生微能量释放而出现，单个的能量释放为（０．３—３．３）×１０１０焦耳。在能量释放过程里，非热电子加速起到重要作用。     

Ellipticity of Nearby Elliptical Galaxies Identified with Extended Extragalactic Radio Sources

The dependence of the ellipticity of nearby optical galaxies associated with extragalactic radio sources on the type of radio galaxy is considered. It is shown that elliptical galaxies identified with radio galaxies of the FRI type and with radio sources having a radio image with a small elongation have a smaller ellipticity, on the average, than those associated with radio galaxies of the FRII type and with radio sources with greater elongation. As one possible explanation for this phenomenon, one can assume that the optical galaxies associated with radio galaxies of type FRI and with radio sources of small elongation are oriented in space so that they are observed edge-on relatively rarely.     

太阳表面磁场的分布与演化研究进展

太阳磁场、较差自转和内部对流使得日面磁场与磁活动在很大的时间尺度和空间尺度范围均表现得相当复杂.其中最有名的是太阳活动的11年周期,或22年磁周期.在较小时间尺度上,从几秒到几小时,有时太阳大气中会发生一些壮观的爆发事件,如耀斑、日珥爆发、日冕物质抛射等.所有这些形式的事件都与太阳磁场紧密关联.简单评述了太阳磁场起源与观测方法,重点论述了不同尺度太阳磁场的空间分布与演化,介绍了从太阳磁活动现象统计得到的有关太阳磁场的几个典型特征,同时讨论了进一步研究的方向.     

射电源法拉第旋率观测效应的模拟研究

由于受射电望远镜分辨率的限制,观测视线方向上可能有多源重叠现象.观测目标源的法拉第旋率(rotation measure,RM)及偏振角(polarization angle,PA)的测量值就会受到方向束内其它背景射电源的影响.通过模拟研究发现,背景射电源对目标源偏振参量测量的干扰形式与干扰源的RM值有关.只运用两三个...