Understanding the Geometry of Astrophysical Magnetic Fields

TL;DR

This paper introduces the super-adiabatic regime of Faraday rotation at low frequencies, which enables direct probing of magnetic field geometry along the line of sight in astrophysical plasmas, using observable transition frequencies.

Contribution

It reveals a new low-frequency regime of Faraday rotation, allowing direct measurement of magnetic field geometry and distinguishing between emission and foreground regions.

Findings

Super-adiabatic regime occurs below ~13 (RM/rad m^-2)^(1/4) (B/G)^(1/2) MHz.

Transition frequency nu_SA depends on local electron density and magnetic field.

Applicable to AGN, Sgr A*, M81 with frequencies from 10 kHz to 10 GHz.

Abstract

Faraday rotation measurements have provided an invaluable technique with which to measure the properties of astrophysical magnetized plasmas. Unfortunately, typical observations provide information only about the density-weighted average of the magnetic field component parallel to the line of sight. As a result, the magnetic field geometry along the line of sight, and in many cases even the location of the rotating material, is poorly constrained. Frequently, interpretations of Faraday rotation observations are dependent upon underlying models of the magnetic field being probed (e.g., uniform, turbulent, equipartition). However, we show that at sufficiently low frequencies, specifically below roughly 13 (RM/rad m^-2)^(1/4) (B/G)^(1/2) MHz, the character of Faraday rotation changes, entering what we term the ``super-adiabatic regime'' in which the rotation measure is proportional to the integrated absolute value of the line-of-sight component of the field. As a consequence, comparing rotation measures at high frequencies with those in this new regime provides direct information about the geometry of the magnetic field along the line of sight. Furthermore, the frequency defining the transition to this new regime, nu_SA, depends directly upon the local electron density and magnetic field strength where the magnetic field is perpendicular to the line of sight, allowing the unambiguous distinction between Faraday rotation within and in front of the emission region. Typical values of nu_SA range from 10 kHz to 10 GHz, depending upon the details of the Faraday rotating environment. In particular, for resolved AGN, including the black holes at the center of the Milky Way (Sgr A*) and M81, nu_SA ranges from roughly 10 MHz to 10 GHz, and thus can be probed via existing and up-coming ground-based radio observatories.