Science Results | SOFIA Science Center

Scientific Highlights
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SALSA – Magnetic Fields in Galaxies by Alejandro Serrano Borlaff & Joan Schmelz Paper: Extragalactic magnetism with SOFIA (SALSA Legacy Program) -- V: First results on the magnetic field orientation of galaxies Alejandro S. Borlaff, et al., 2023.
The Abundance Discrepancy Factor in Markarian 71 by Yuguang Chen & Joan Schmelz Paper: Accurate Oxygen Abundance of Interstellar Gas in Mrk 71 from Optical and Infrared Spectra Chen, Yuguang, et al., 2023/04, Nature Astronomy, tmp, 87.
Magnetic Fields - A Ubiquitous Part of Galaxy Ecosystems By Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez and Joan Schmelz Paper: Extragalactic magnetism with SOFIA (SALSA Legacy Program) -- IV: Program overview and first results on the polarization fraction Lopez-Rodriguez, Enrique, et al., 2022-05-00.
Multi-Phase [C II] Emission in Nearby Galaxies By Elizabeth Tarantino and Joan Schmelz Paper: Characterizing the Multiphase Origin of [C II] Emission in M101 and NGC 6946 with Velocity-resolved Spectroscopy Tarantino, Elizabeth, et al., 2021/07, ApJ, 915, 92.
Magnetically-Driven Flows in NGC 1097 By Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez and Joan Schmelz Paper: Extragalactic Magnetism with SOFIA (Legacy Program) - II: A Magnetically Driven Flow in the Starburst Ring of NGC 1097 Lopez-Rodriguez, Enrique, et al., 2021/12, ApJ, 923, 150. Magnetically-driven flows feed the super massive blackhole at the center of NGC 1097. SOFIA investigated this long-standing problem of the large-scale transfer of matter from the body of the host galaxy to the active nucleus.
Evidence of [CII] Shocked Emission in NGC 7479 By Dario Fadda and Joan Schmelz Paper: [C II] and CO Emission along the Bar and Counter-arms of NGC 7479 Fadda, Dario, et al., 2021/03, ApJ, 909, 204. SOFIA observations of the barred spiral galaxy, NGC 7479, were able to separate shock-enhanced ionized carbon [CII] emission from that associated with star formation, reminding us that it is important to consider multiple mechanisms when studying the [CII] emission in galaxies with active nuclei.
Magnetic Chaos Hidden Within the Whirlpool Galaxy By Alejandro Borlaff and Joan Schmelz Paper: Extragalactic Magnetism with SOFIA (Legacy Program). I. The Magnetic Field in the Multiphase Interstellar Medium of M51 Alejandro S. Borlaff et al 2021 ApJ 921 128
The Warped Magnetic Field of Centaurus A By Enrique Lopez Rodrigues & Joan Schmelz Paper: The Magnetic Field Across the Molecular Warped Disk of Centaurus A Lopez-Rodriguez, E., Nat Astron (2021).
Magnetic Highway: Channeling the M82 Superwind By Joan Schmelz Paper: The Strength and Structure of the Magnetic Field in the Galactic Outflow of Messier 82 Lopez-Rodriguez, E., et al., 2021 ApJ 914 24
Cold Quasars and the Evolution of Galaxies By Kevin Cooke, Allison Kirkpatrick, and Joan Schmelz Paper: Dying of the Light: An X-Ray Fading Cold Quasar at z ~ 0.405 Cooke, K. C. et al., 2020 ApJ 903 106
SOFIA Confirms Predictions of the Density Wave Theory in NGC 1068 By Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez and Joan Schmelz Paper: SOFIA/HAWC+ Traces the Magnetic Felds in NGC 1068 Lopez-Rodriguez et al., 2020, ApJ, 888, 66. SOFIA astronomers have measured, for the first time, the magnetic field tracing the star forming regions along the spiral arms of NGC 1068, the nearest grand-design spiral with an active galactic nuclei and a large-scale almost face-on disk.
Star Formation Across Cosmic Time By Joan Schmelz How do astronomers understand galaxies that are so far away that they may appear as a simple point source, even when observed with the most powerful telescopes? One proven technique is to study local analogues, galaxies that might have similar properties but are close enough to resolve their structures. A study like this was underway when researchers discovered something extraordinary – their observation was 10 times stronger than predicted.
Weighing Galactic Wind Provides Clues to Evolution of Galaxies By Terry Jones, Arielle Moullet, Kassandra Bell, and Joan Schmelz Paper: SOFIA Far Infrared Imaging Polarimetry of M82 and NGC 253: Exploring the Super–Galactic Wind Jones, Terry Jay, et al., 2019, ApJL, 870, L9.
Magnetic Fields Confine the Torus at the Core of Cygnus A By Enrique Lopez-Rodriguez, Kassandra Bell, and Joan Schmelz (USRA) Paper: The Highly Polarized Dusty Emission Core of Cygnus A Lopez-Rodriguez, Enrique, et al., 2018, ApJL, 861, L23.
SOFIA Finds Cool Dust Around Energetic Active Black Holes Researchers at the University of Texas San Antonio using observations from NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, found that the dust surrounding active, ravenous black holes are much more compact than previously thought.