Revealing Cosmic Magnetism with Radio Polarimetry

TL;DR

This paper discusses how radio polarimetry, especially with the upcoming Square Kilometre Array, will enhance understanding of cosmic magnetic fields, their origins, and their influence on the Universe's evolution.

Contribution

It reviews recent radio astronomy findings and outlines how the Square Kilometre Array will advance knowledge of cosmic magnetism and its role in cosmic evolution.

Findings

Radio astronomy provides unique insights into magnetic fields.

Square Kilometre Array will significantly improve magnetic field observations.

Magnetism influences key processes in cosmic evolution.

Abstract

While gravitation sustains the on-going evolution of the cosmos, it is magnetism that breaks gravity's symmetry and that provides the pathway to the non-thermal Universe. By enabling processes such as anisotropic pressure support, particle acceleration, and jet collimation, magnetism has for billions of years regulated the feedback vital for returning matter to the interstellar and intergalactic medium. After reviewing recent results that demonstrate the unique view of magnetic fields provided by radio astronomy, I explain how the Square Kilometre Array will provide data that will reveal what cosmic magnets look like, how they formed, and what role they have played in the evolving Universe.