Global enhancement and structure formation of the magnetic field in spiral galaxies

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to explore how large-scale magnetic fields in spiral galaxies evolve, are enhanced, and form structures, highlighting the role of spiral arms, gas density, and magnetic energy transfer.

Contribution

It provides new insights into magnetic field enhancement, structure formation, and the influence of spiral patterns in galactic disks through detailed numerical modeling.

Findings

Magnetic fields align with gaseous structures but are more chaotic in small-scale features.

Magnetic field strength in cold gas reaches 3-10 μG over several rotation periods.

Radial transfer of magnetic energy enhances field strength at galactic outskirts.

Abstract

We study numerically large-scale magnetic field evolution and its enhancement in gaseous disks of spiral galaxies. We consider a set of models with the various spiral pattern parameters and the initial magnetic field strength with taking into account gas self-gravity and cooling/heating. In agreement with previous studies, we find out that galactic magnetic field is mostly aligned with gaseous structures, however small-scale gaseous structures (spurs and clumps) are more chaotic than the magnetic field structure. In spiral arms magnetic field strongly coexists with the gas distribution, in the inter-arm region we see filamentary magnetic field structure. Simulations reveal the presence of the small-scale irregularities of the magnetic field as well as the reversal of magnetic field at the outer edge of the large-scale spurs. We provide evidences that the magnetic field in the spiral arms has a stronger mean-field component, and there is a clear inverse correlation between gas density and plasma-beta parameter, compared to the rest of the disk with a more turbulent component of the field and an absence of correlation between gas density and plasma-beta. We show the mean field growth up to 3-10$\mu G$ in the cold gas during several rotation periods (500-800 Myr), whereas ratio between azimuthal and radial field is equal to 4/1. Mean field strength increases by a factor of 1.5-2.5 for models with various spiral pattern parameters. Random magnetic field component can reach up to 25 % from the total strength. By making an analysis of the time-depended evolution of radial Poynting flux we point out that the magnetic field strength is enhanced stronger at the galactic outskirts which is due to the radial transfer of magnetic energy by the spiral arms pushing the magnetic field outward. Our results also support the presence of sufficient conditions for development of MRI at distances >11 kpc.