Detection of microgauss coherent magnetic fields in a galaxy five billion years ago

TL;DR

This study provides the first clear measurements of coherent magnetic fields in a galaxy from 4.6 billion years ago, supporting the idea that such fields can originate from dynamo processes early in cosmic history.

Contribution

It presents direct observational evidence of microgauss magnetic fields in a distant galaxy, confirming the dynamo theory's applicability at high redshift.

Findings

Detected coherent magnetic fields in a galaxy 4.6 Gyrs ago

Magnetic field strength and geometry similar to local galaxies

Supports mean-field dynamo origin for cosmic magnetic fields

Abstract

Magnetic fields play a pivotal role in the physics of interstellar medium in galaxies, but there are few observational constraints on how they evolve across cosmic time. Spatially resolved synchrotron polarization maps at radio wavelengths reveal well-ordered large-scale magnetic fields in nearby galaxies that are believed to grow from a seed field via a dynamo effect. To directly test and characterize this theory requires magnetic field strength and geometry measurements in cosmologically distant galaxies, which are challenging to obtain due to the limited sensitivity and angular resolution of current radio telescopes. Here, we report the cleanest measurements yet of magnetic fields in a galaxy beyond the local volume, free of the systematics traditional techniques would encounter. By exploiting the scenario where the polarized radio emission from a background source is gravitationally lensed by a foreground galaxy at z = 0.439 using broadband radio polarization data, we detected coherent $\mu$G magnetic fields in the lensing disk galaxy as seen 4.6 Gyrs ago, with similar strength and geometry to local volume galaxies. This is the highest redshift galaxy whose observed coherent magnetic field property is compatible with a mean-field dynamo origin.