Astrophysical Magnetic Fields
From Galaxies to the Early Universe

This self-contained introduction to astrophysical magnetic fields provides a comprehensive review of the current state of the subject area.

Anvar Shukurov (Author), Kandaswamy Subramanian (Author)

9780521861052, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 December 2021

650 pages
25.1 x 17.6 x 3.5 cm, 1.26 kg

Magnetic 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 cosmology and general relativity.

Preface. 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.

Subject Areas: Galaxies & stars [PGM], Astronomy, space & time [PG], Mathematics & science [P]