Cosmic Magnetic Fields (IAU S259)
From Planets to Stars and Galaxies

IAU Symposium 259 presents the first interdisciplinary, comprehensive review of the role of cosmic magnetic fields, from astronomers and physicists.

Klaus G. Strassmeier (Edited by), Alexander G. Kosovichev (Edited by), John E. Beckman (Edited by)

9780521889902, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 June 2009

690 pages, 50 b/w illus.
25.3 x 18 x 3.2 cm, 1.4 kg

Cosmic magnetic fields play a key role in the formation, structure and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies, and possibly the Universe as a whole. Magnetic fields of celestial bodies have been studied for a century, since the discovery of the first extraterrestrial magnetic field by George Ellery Hale in 1908, but their origin and evolution remain open questions for fundamental physics and astrophysics. IAU Symposium 259 presents the first interdisciplinary and yet comprehensive review of the role of magnetic fields on all scales that involved astronomers and physicists from across the community. It gives a balanced account of both theoretical and observational aspects of topics ranging from Earth's habitability to the origin of the universe. This volume gives a forefront research account on the current state of the art.

Preface K. G. Strassmeier, A. G. Kosovichev and J. E. Beckman
Organising committee
Conference photograph
Conference participants
Session 1. Interstellar magnetic fields, star-forming regions and the Death Valley Takahiro Kudoh and Elisabeta de Gouveia Dal Pino
Session 2. Multi-scale magnetic fields of the Sun
their generation in the interior, and magnetic energy release Nigel O. Weiss
Session 3. Planetary magnetic fields and the formation and evolution of planetary systems and planets
exoplanets Karl-Heinz Glassmeier
Session 4. Stellar magnetic fields: cool and hot stars Swetlana Hubrig
Session 5. From stars to galaxies and the intergalactic space Dimitry Sokoloff and Bryan Gaensler
Session 6. Advances in methods and instrumentation for measuring magnetic fields across all wavelengths and targets Tom Landecker and Klaus G. Strassmeier
Author index
Object index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB]