All About Cosmic Magnetic Fields
„The larger our ignorance, the stronger the magnetic field” was a statement of the astrophysicist Lodewijk Woltjer already made in 1965. But at that time not many scientists really believed in a sizable importance of magnetic fields for explaining astrophysical phenomenons and evolutions in the distant Universe. This special issue was more or less restricted for applications concerning the Sun or the magnetosphere of the Earth. Beyond that powerful magnetic codes had not been developed, the computer power was still insufficient. If at all, magnetic astrophysical problems were studied mainly analytically.
Particularly in the last ten years the situation has changed dramatically. Astrophysicists are today estimating and if essential are examining the influence of cosmic magnetism in nearly every field of interest. The capability of their computer facilities and the used codes are now, going along with that, highly evolved.
This didactically orientated review talk will start with an easy explanation and new insights into dynamo, magnetic reconnection and wave processes working in the sun and their atmosphere. After that angular momentum transport mechanisms will be discussed for disk-jet systems. The role of magnetic fields in and around compact objects, in connection with supernovae and gamma ray bursts will be shown, the possible importance for structure forming processes in the early universe discussed. The talk will end with the presentation of new and for the future planned telescopes, instruments and experiments, which can help to uncurtain the real importance of magnetic processes for our understanding of the Universe, to liquidate our “ignorance” about that.
“To B or not to B” is a real good question.