Galactic Magnetism in the Era of LOFAR and SKA

Europe/Stockholm
FA32

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Andrew Fletcher (Newcastle University), Axel Brandenburg (Nordita Stockholm), Bryan Gaensler (Sydney Institute for Astronomy), Cathy Horellou (Radioastronomi och Astrofysik, Chalmers), Oliver Gressel (Nordita Stockholm), Rainer Beck (Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie Bonn), Sui Ann Mao (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Description

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AlbaNova Campus, Stockholm, Sweden

Scope

Updated hardware on existing radio telescopes as well as the upcoming generation of telescope arrays like ASKAP, MeerKAT, SKA or LOFAR allow the observer to record a vast number of spectral channels. Applying a Fourier transform to this spectro-polarimetric data of radio continuum emission in turn provides a “Faraday spectrum”. This spectral data embodies complex information about the magneto-ionic medium along the line of sight, and within the telescope beam. A reliable detection of three-dimensional magnetic field structures, e.g. in spiral galaxies or galaxy clusters, will require the development of a “Faraday tomography” method based on the analysis of data cubes spanned by two space coordinates and a “Faraday depth” dimension.

Motivation and Outline

Applying new powerful methods based on rotation measure synthesis will require a strong intuition for interpreting the obtained Faraday spectrum. One guiding principle in exploring the range of applicability and limits of the method will be to use simple synthetic data sets. Working with a single line-of-sight towards a background source, we plan to study the signatures created by e.g. multiple Faraday screens. Complications are expected when considering more complex sight lines, e.g. including regions with significant synchrotron emissivity. Further topics will include artificial polarization maps from dynamo simulations, and statistical analysis of data cubes of multi-phase ISM turbulence with realistic cosmic ray energy distributions. Studying these artificial observations, we aim to already shape an image of the new exciting physics to be revealed by upcoming instruments.

Format

The workshop aims to develop essential tools for interpreting polarization data provided by current and future radio telescopes. Specifically addressing the interface between theoretical modelling and observation, we will focus on effective ways to compare observational data with simulation results. To facilitate the exchange of ideas, we plan to have short talks in the morning and hands-on sessions and informal discussions in the afternoon. Registration via the application page.

Scientific Organizing Committee

  • Sui Ann Mao (NRAO/U of Wisconsin Madison)
  • Cathy Horellou (Chalmers Göteborg)
  • Oliver Gressel (Nordita Stockholm)
  • Bryan Gaensler (The University of Sydney)
  • Andrew Fletcher (Newcastle University)
  • Axel Brandenburg (Nordita Stockholm)
  • Rainer Beck (MPIfR Bonn)

Data cube for RM clean tutorialThe dirty data cube used for George's RM-clean tutorial.

Sponsored by

Nordita Swedish Research Council

Further Details

    • 9:00 AM 9:45 AM
      Welcoming & Registration AlbaNova Entrance Lobby (AlbaNova Entrance Lobby)

      AlbaNova Entrance Lobby

      AlbaNova Entrance Lobby

    • 9:45 AM 11:25 AM
      Polarization Maps from Global Simulations FA32

      FA32

      Convener: Dr Detlef Elstner (AIP)
      • 9:45 AM
        Cosmic-ray-driven Dynamo in barred and dwarf irregular Galaxies 40m
        Speaker: Prof. Katarzyna Otmianowska-Mazur (Kraków Jagiellonian University Astronomical Observatory)
      • 10:25 AM
        Polarization maps from hybrid dynamo simulations 40m
        Speaker: Dr Oliver Gressel (Nordita)
      • 11:05 AM
        Cosmic-ray-driven dynamo in the Milky Way 20m
        Speaker: Natalia Nowak (Kraków Jagiellonian University Astronomical Observatory)
    • 11:25 AM 11:40 AM
      Short break 15m FA32

      FA32

    • 11:40 AM 12:30 PM
      Discussion Session -- Linking Global Dynamo Simulations with Observations FA32

      FA32

      • 11:40 AM
        Linking Global Dynamo Simulations with Observations (discussion) 50m
    • 12:30 PM 2:00 PM
      Lunch break 1h 30m AlbaNova Restaurant (AlbaNova Restaurant)

      AlbaNova Restaurant

      AlbaNova Restaurant

    • 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
      Discussion Session -- ISM Turbulence FA32

      FA32

      • 2:00 PM
        ISM Turbulence (discussion) 1h
    • 3:00 PM 3:30 PM
      Coffee break 30m FA32

      FA32

    • 3:30 PM 5:00 PM
      Turbulence Simulations FA32

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      Convener: Dr Oliver Gressel (Nordita)
      • 3:30 PM
        Studying RM dispersion from turbulence simulations 45m
        Speaker: Prof. Axel Brandenburg (Nordita)
      • 4:15 PM
        Comparing turbulence simulations with observations 45m
        Speaker: Blakesley Burkhart (University of Wisconsin Madison)
    • 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
      Informal welcoming reception FA32

      FA32

    • 9:00 AM 10:30 AM
      Probing statistical properties of RM dispersion with single lines-of-sight FA32

      FA32

      Convener: Prof. Axel Brandenburg (Nordita)
      • 9:00 AM
        The Extent of Magnetic Fields around Galaxies 45m
        Speaker: Dr Martin Bernet (Institute of Astronomy, ETH Zurich)
      • 9:45 AM
        Rotation-Measure as a Function of Redshift 45m
        Speaker: Prof. Bryan Gaensler (The University of Sydney)
    • 10:30 AM 11:00 AM
      Coffee break 30m FA32

      FA32

    • 11:00 AM 12:30 PM
      Discussion Session -- Statistical properties of RM dispersion FA32

      FA32

      • 11:00 AM
        Statistical properties of RM dispersion (discussion) 1h 30m
    • 12:30 PM 2:00 PM
      Lunch break 1h 30m AlbaNova Restaurant (AlbaNova Restaurant)

      AlbaNova Restaurant

      AlbaNova Restaurant

    • 2:00 PM 3:00 PM
      Recent results from ATCA & VLA FA32

      FA32

      Convener: Prof. Cathy Horellou (Chalmers University of Technology)
      • 2:00 PM
        Recent VLA polarization results 30m
        Speaker: Dr Sui Ann Mao (NRAO/U of Wisconsin Madison)
      • 2:30 PM
        Broadband spectrophotometry of AGN in the ATCA Beta Test Field 30m
        Speaker: Craig Anderson (The University of Sydney)
    • 3:00 PM 3:30 PM
      Coffee break 30m FA32

      FA32

    • 3:30 PM 4:30 PM
      Status reports on LOFAR, POSSUM & MeerKAT FA32

      FA32

      • 3:30 PM
        LOFAR MKSP status report on polarization 20m
        Speaker: Dr George Heald (ASTRON)
      • 3:50 PM
        POSSUM: Status and early science with ASKAP 20m
        Speaker: Dr Cormac Purcell (Sydney Institute for Astronomy)
      • 4:10 PM
        Status report on MeerKAT / KAT-7 20m
        Speaker: Alex Clarke (University of Southampton)
    • 4:30 PM 6:00 PM
      Individual Discussions FA32

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    • 9:00 AM 12:15 PM
      Rotation-Measure Synthesis I FA32

      FA32

      • 9:00 AM
        Scientific Applications of RM Synthesis 45m
        Speaker: Dr Rainer Beck (MPIfR Bonn)
      • 9:45 AM
        Report on the RM synthesis data challenge 45m
        Speaker: Dr Xiaohui Sun (The University of Sydney)
      • 10:30 AM
        Coffee break 30m
      • 11:00 AM
        Wavelet techniques and RM synthesis 45m
        Speaker: Dr Rodion Stepanov (Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Science)
      • 11:45 AM
        Faraday Synthesis: The synergy of aperture and rotation measure synthesis 30m
        Speaker: Henrik Junklewitz (MPA Garching)
    • 12:15 PM 3:00 PM
      Lunch break 2h 45m AlbaNova Restaurant (AlbaNova Restaurant)

      AlbaNova Restaurant

      AlbaNova Restaurant

    • 3:00 PM 3:30 PM
      Dynamo theory Q&A session FA32

      FA32

    • 3:30 PM 6:00 PM
      Discussion Session -- RM Synthesis FA32

      FA32

      • 3:30 PM
        POSSUM RM-synthesis pipeline 30m
        Speaker: Dr Cormac Purcell (The University of Sydney)
      • 4:00 PM
        Coffee break 30m
      • 4:30 PM
        Hands-on data challenge 1h 30m
        Speaker: Dr Xiaohui Sun (The University of Sydney)
    • 9:00 AM 11:00 AM
      Lie-in / City exploration n/a (Anywhere)

      n/a

      Anywhere

    • 11:00 AM 12:30 PM
      Rotation-Measure Synthesis II FB42

      FB42

      (note the different room!)

      Convener: Prof. Cathy Horellou (Chalmers)
      • 11:00 AM
        RM signatures of Milky Way foreground objects 30m
        Speaker: Dr Andrew Fletcher (Newcastle University)
      • 11:30 AM
        RM synthesis in the SINGS sample 20m
        Speaker: Dr George Heald (ASTRON - Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy)
      • 11:50 AM
        Update of WSRT SINGs galaxy polarimetry -- Wide-band RM synthesis of NGC 6946 40m
        Speaker: Anna Williams (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
    • 12:30 PM 2:00 PM
      Lunch break 1h 30m AlbaNova Restaurant (AlbaNova Restaurant)

      AlbaNova Restaurant

      AlbaNova Restaurant

    • 2:00 PM 3:30 PM
      Discussion Session -- miscellaneous FA32

      FA32

      • 2:00 PM
        Telecon with SKA cosmic magnetism group 45m
      • 2:45 PM
        RM Clean Tutorial 45m
        Speaker: Dr George Heald (ASTRON)
    • 3:30 PM 4:00 PM
      Coffee break 30m FA32

      FA32

    • 4:00 PM 6:00 PM
      Individual Discussion / Tutorials FA32

      FA32

    • 9:00 AM 10:00 AM
      Lie-in n/a (Anywhere)

      n/a

      Anywhere

    • 10:00 AM 11:00 AM
      Polarization and Depolarization FA32

      FA32

      • 10:00 AM
        Starlight polarization 30m
        Speaker: Prof. Antonio Mario Magalhaes
      • 10:30 AM
        Polarization and depolarization at long wavelengths 30m
        Speaker: Prof. Cathy Horellou (Chalmers University of Technology)
    • 11:00 AM 12:30 PM
      Discussion Session -- Workshop wrap-up FA32

      FA32

      • 11:00 AM
        Wrap-up 1h 30m
    • 12:30 PM 12:45 PM
      Closing & farewell FA32

      FA32