Regular magnetic fields in the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 4449 (vol 355, pg 128, 2000)

We present a high-resolution VLA study of the total power and polarized rad io continuum emission at 8.46 and 4.86 GHz of the irregular galaxy NGC 4449 , known for its weak rotation and non-systematic gas motions. We found stro ng galaxy-scale regular magnetic fields, which is surprising because of a l ack of ordered rotation required for the dynamo action. The strength of the regular field reaches 8 mu G and that of the total field 14 mu G, comparab le to that of the total magnetic field strength in radio-bright spirals. Th e magnetic vectors in NGC 4449 form radial "fans" in the central region and fragments of a spiral pattern in the galaxy's outskirts. These structures are associated with large regions of systematic Faraday rotation, implying genuine galaxy-scale magnetic fields rather than random ones compressed and stretched by gas flows. The observed pattern of polarization B-vectors is similar to dynamo-type fields in normal spirals. Nonstandard, fast dynamo c oncepts are required to explain the observed field strengths, though it is unknown what kind of magnetic field geometry can be produced in slowly and chaotically rotating objects. The so far neglected role of magnetic fields for the dynamics and star formation in dwarf irregulars also needs to be re vised.