Lazarian’s magnetic field project

New Method to Detect Magnetic Fields in Turbulence Region

In 2017, Prof. Lazarian suggested that we can use velocity channel maps to trace B fields in turbulent regions. B fields are parallel to channel map velocity gradients if the channel width is smaller than line width.

If this new method works, then this would open a door in observational detection of magnetic fields. I was eager to first verify his theory on disk simulation, then applied observationally. I used ZeusTW, a simulated turbulent disk data from Prof. Li Zhi-Yun (University of Virginia) to test his theory on turbulent disk morphology. I applied my own LTE radiative transfer code, which I spent over a year to develop on this project. In my research, I have confirmed the idea suggested by Lazarian & Yuen (2017) stating that velocity gradient and intensity gradient would be parallel to B field in a turbulent medium. The findings of my research project are presented as a poster in 2017 ASROC annual meeting.

Figure 1. 2017 ASROC Conference poster - Chenghan Hsieh

As for current extensions to the project, since my radiative code assumes LTE, I am now collaborating with associate researcher Dr. Liu Sheng-Yuan (ASIAA) and attempting to apply SPARX non-LTE radiative transfer code to Lazarian’s simulated data.

Supervisor: Prof. Shi-Ping Lai (NTHU)

Collaborators: Prof. Alex Lazarian (UW Madison), Ka Ho Yuen (graduate student of UW Madison), Dr. Sheng-Yuan Liu (ASIAA Associate Research Fellow), I-Ta Hsieh (ASIAA supporting engineer), Prof. Li Zhi-Yun (University of Virginia)

Updated: 2017.11.24. Chenghan Hsieh