The Magnetic Field Structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud

• Grant number: 10/03802-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2010
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Astrophysics of the Interstellar Medium
• Principal Investigator: Antônio Mário Magalhães
• Grantee: Aiara Lobo Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas (IAG). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims at studying the interstellar magnetic field in regions of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) that have been affected by the interaction between the Small and the Large Magellanic Clouds.We will use optical imaging polarimetry data to detect the polarization from aligned dust grains in the interstellar magnetic field of the SMC. The optical linear polarization will map the sky-projected direction of the magnetic field and allow us to determine characteristics of the SMC and Pan-Magellanic field structures. We will also use the dispersion of the polarization vectors' position angle in order to estimate the sky-projected component of the magnetic field intensity.The resulting stellar optical polarization catalog will allow us to correlate it with other data, such as spectral type and possible circunstellar envelope of the stars. The magnetic field structure will be also cross-correlated with the interstellar medium structure of the SMC as shown by the images from the Spitzer satellite and other surveys of that galaxy.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GOMES, AIARA LOBO; MAGALHAES, ANTONIO MARIO; PEREYRA, ANTONIO; RODRIGUES, CLAUDIA VILEGA. A NEW OPTICAL POLARIZATION CATALOG FOR THE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD: THE MAGNETIC FIELD STRUCTURE. ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, v. 806, n. 1, JUN 10 2015. (10/19694-4, 10/03802-2, 01/12589-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GOMES, Aiara Lobo. The magnetic field structure at the Small Magellanic Cloud. 2012. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto Astronômico e Geofísico (IAG/SBD) São Paulo.