Research report 2012 - Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

Anchoring galactic magnetic fields in giant molecular clouds: a bird’s-eye view

Authors
Li, Hua-Bai; Henning, Thomas
Departments
Planeten- und Sternentstehung, Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg
Summary
Astronomers at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy have measured for the first time the alignment of magnetic fields in gigantic clouds of gas and dust in a distant galaxy. The results suggest that such magnetic fields play a key role in channelling matter to form denser clouds, and thus in setting the stage for the birth of new stars. The work was published in the November 24 edition 2011 of the journal Nature.

For the full text, see the German version.

Go to Editor View