Description
Book SynopsisMagnetic fields permeate space and affect many major astrophysical phenomena, but they are often ignored due to their perceived complexity. This self-contained introduction to astrophysical magnetic fields provides both a comprehensive review of the current state of the subject and a critical discussion of the latest research. It presents our knowledge of magnetic fields from the Early Universe, their evolution in cosmic time through to their roles in present-day galaxies, galaxy clusters and the wider intergalactic medium, with attention given to both theory and observations. This volume also contains an extensive introduction into magnetohydrodynamics, numerous worked examples, observational and mathematical techniques and interpretations of the observations. Its review of our current knowledge, with an emphasis on results that are likely to form the basis for future progress, benefits a broad audience of advanced students and active researchers, including those from fields such as c
Table of ContentsPreface. 1. Introduction; 2. Elements of magnetohydrodynamics; 3. Observational signatures of magnetic fields; 4. Polarization and depolarization; 5. The concept of hydromagnetic dynamo; 6. The fluctuation dynamo; 7. The mean-field dynamo; 8. The fluctuation and mean-field dynamos unified; 9. Seed magnetic fields; 10. Interstellar and intergalactic medium; 11. Kinematic dynamos in galaxies; 12. Non-linear mean-field galactic dynamos; 13. Theory and observations put together; 14. Magnetohydrodyanmics of galaxy clusters; 15. Magnetic fields in the early universe; 16. Signatures of primordial magnetic fields; References; Index.
