Enrique Lopez Rodriguez

Extragalactic Magnetism

I study the magnetic fields in the multi-phase ISM of galaxies with the ultimate goal of quantifying the role of magnetic fields in galaxy evolution. This work is performed using radio and infrared polarimetric observations and velocity tracers with the largest and most sensitive observatories.

Active Galactic Nuclei

My research is focused on the study of the dusty and clumpy obscuring structure surrounding the black hole and accretion disk in active galactic nuclei. I study the dusty torus using a hydrodynamical framework.

Infrared Polarimetric instruments

I supported the commisioning and early-science products of:

- HAWC+: far-infrared polarimeter onboard SOFIA.

- MMT-Pol: near-infraed polarimeter, in conjuntion with the adaptive optics system on the 6.5-m MMT.

- CanariCam: mid-infrared polarimeter on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS.

Next Generation 30-m telescopes

I am a member of the TMT ISDT: Supermassive Black Hole, and Time Domain. My current participation is focused on enhancing the potential areas that may benefit from the availability of polarimetric capabilities with the TMT in the Detailed Science Case 2015.

I am the PI of the Key Science Project "Towards a Dynamical AGN Tori" as part of the TMT/GMT collaboration.

I am also a member of MICHI, an MIR instrument for possible construction of the TMT.

The magnetic field of the warped molecular disk of Centaurus A

Centaurus A has a waped magnetic field tightly following the fast rotating and distorted molecular disk. The magnetic field is amplified via small-scale turbulent fields due to the galaxy merger.

The strength and structure of the magnetic field in the galactic outflow of M82

Collaborative work with solar physicists, which provides a novel approach to quantify the effects of outflows on galactic magnetic fields as well as their influence on the intergalactic medium and evolution of energetic particles. We concluded that the magnetic field in the starburst galaxy M82 is 'open', providing a direct channel between the starburst core and the intergalactic medium.

ALMA Polarimetry measures the magnetically aligned dust grains in the torus of NGC 1068

First detection of magnetically aligned dust grains in the dusty torus of an AGN, thanks to the ALMA poalrimetric observations at a resolution of 0.07" (4.2 pc) in Band 7 (860 um).

SOFIA/HAWC+ Traces the Magnetic Fields in NGC 1068

First detection of a galactic spiral magnetic field by means of thermal emission from magnetically aligned dust grains in the grand design spiral galaxy NGC 1068.

The origin of the mid-infrared nuclear polarization of active galactic nuclei

1-13 μm polarimetric observations reveal a diverse set of physical processes responsible for the nuclear polarization of AGN. Radio-Quiet AGN show low polarized cores arising from extended dust, while Radio-Loud AGN show high polarized cores arising from a compact dusty and magnetically driven torus.

The Highly Polarized Dusty Emission Core of Cygnus A

Far-infrared poalrimetry suggests that a coherent dusty and magnetic field structure dominates the 10-100 μm emission around the AGN of Cygnus A.

The Emission and Distribution of Dust of the Torus of NGC 1068

The morphology of the dust emission in our 2D image at 432 μm is spatially coincident with the cloud distribution, while the morphology of the emission in the 1-20 μm wavelength range shows an elongated morphology perpendicular to the cloud distribution. We find that our 2D CLUMPY torus image at 12 μm can produce comparable results to those observed using IR interferometry

Infrared polarimetry of Mrk 231: scattering off hot dust grains in the central core

A dusty structure of scales of few pc dominates the infrared polarization of Mrk 231. The most plausible polarization mechanism is dust scattering.

Mid-infrared imaging- and spectro-polarimetric subarcsecond observations of NGC 1068

High-angular imaging- and spectro-polarimetric mid-infrared observations reveal the jet-ionization cones interaction in NGC 1068.

Dichroic polarization at mid-infrared wavelengths: a Bayesian approach

Offering a Bayesian approach to disentangle the several polarization mechanisms at mid-infrared wavelengths.

Near-infrared polarimetric adaptive optics observations of NGC 1068: a torus created by a hydromagnetic outflow wind

The dust located at the inner wall of the torus of NGC 1068 is confined by a strong, ~80 mG, magnetic field.

Polarized Mid-infrared Synchrotron Emission in the Core of Cygnus A

Synchrotron emission dominates from a pc-scale jet close to the core.

NOTE: Check Lopez-Rodriguez et al. 2018b for the most recent results on this topic.

Estimations of the magnetic field strength in the torus of IC 5063 using near-infrared polarimetry

The dusty torus is spatially confined at scales of 1 pc around the active nuclei due to a strong, ~100 mG, magnetic field.