Magnetic fields that permeate the interstellar medium (ISM) play an important role in various astrophysical processes, such as star formation. Unfortunately, magnetic fields are difficult to detect directly, as they have no effect on neutral photons—the light by which we view the Universe. Magnetic fields do affect the vast clouds of dust in our Galaxy by aligning the dust grains, resulting in the light they emit also being aligned, or polarized. By measuring the polarization of the dust’s emission, we can infer the structure of the interstellar magnetic field over the sky.

Susan Clark, who will officially begin her appointment as KIPAC's newest faculty member on September 1, 2021, is quite familiar with the challenges inherent an observational field like astrophysics. While the main thrust of her research is reaching a broad understanding of astrophysical magnetism—including planetary and stellar fields, the immensely powerful fields of pulsars and active galactic nuclei, and the huge fields throughout galaxy clusters—one of her favorite areas of research is mapping the vast lines of magnetic force that thread through our own galaxy.