SKA studies of in-situ synchrotron radiation from molecular clouds
Date
2014
Authors
Dickinson, Clive
Beck, R
Crocker, Roland
Crutcher, Richard M.
Davies, Rod D
Ferriere, Katia M.
Fuller, G.A.
Jaffe, Tess R
Jones, David I
Leahy, J. P.
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Proceedings of Science
Abstract
Observations of the properties of dense molecular clouds are critical in understanding the process of star-formation. One of the most important, but least understood, is the role of the magnetic fields. We discuss the possibility of using high-resolution, high-sensitivity radio observations with the SKA to measure for the first time the in-situ synchrotron radiation from these molecular clouds. If the cosmic-ray (CR) particles penetrate clouds as expected, then we can measure the B-field strength directly using radio data. So far, this signature has never been detected from the collapsing clouds themselves and would be a unique probe of the magnetic field. Dense cores are typically ∼0:05 pc in size, corresponding to ∼arcsec at ∼kpc distances, and flux density estimates are ∼mJy at 1 GHz. The SKA should be able to readily detect directly, for the first time, along lines-of-sight that are not contaminated by thermal emission or complex foreground/background synchrotron emission. Polarised synchrotron may also be detectable providing additional information about the regular/turbulent fields.
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Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array AA SKA14
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Conference paper
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Open Access
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