Introduction:
- Prof. Judith Irwin is a professor at Queen's University
- Judith Irwin is the Principle Investigator (leader) of the CHANG-ES collaboration
- Her team studies edge on spiral galaxies and their magnetic fields
- The magnetic fields can be seen in the halo of these galaxies. CHANG-ES has created award winning photos of these magnetic fields
- To detect magnetic fields there must also be cosmic rays
The CHANG-ES Collaboration:
- CHANG-ES stands for: Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies - an EVLA Survey
- Observing many galaxies they can combine the data to see the very faint average galaxy halo
- They have found a consistent X-shaped magnetic field coming out of edge on spiral galaxies
- Theoretically this can be explained with a galaxy scale magnetic dynamo (which is the same theory for Earth's magnetic field)
- The dynamo model of galaxy magnetic fields is also consistent with an exciting new observation of alternating field directions
Looking to the Future:
- The CHANG-ES collaboration plans plans to seek even fainter magnetic fields using new powerful telescopes such as the MeerKAT and in the future the SKA
- Observing these magnetic fields in other galaxies (like Elliptical galaxies) is challenging unless they have a good source of cosmic rays
- Adding more galaxies to the CHANG-ES collection of observations will help for detecting faint signals
Links to Science Outreach Material:
- Canada France Hawaii Telescope
- McDonald Institute
- Royal Astronomical Society
- Astronomy on Tap
Special thanks to Colin Vendromin for the music, also thanks to Zac Kenny for the logo!