Understanding the Geometry of Astrophysical Magnetic Fields

Understand

Faraday rotation measurements have provided an invaluable technique with which to measure the properties of astrophysical magnetized plasmas.

• Unfortunately, typical observations provide information only about the density-weighted average of the magnetic field component parallel to the line of sight.
• As a result, the magnetic field geometry along the line of sight, and in many cases even the location of the rotating material, is poorly constrained.
• Frequently, interpretations of Faraday rotation observations are dependent upon underlying models of the magnetic field being probed (e.g., uniform, turbulent, equipartition).