Institute for Advanced Study Informal Astrophysics Seminar

The ability to reconstruct the 3D magnetic field in the Galactic interstellar medium (ISM) is instrumental for many different scientific efforts. A 3D magnetic field reconstruction can inform us about the dynamics in star forming regions, the origin of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, as well as large-scale Galactic processes. Such 3D maps are also necessary for accurately modeling polarized dust emission, which acts as a dominant foreground contaminating the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background. While modeling the magnetic field in 3D using 2D data has been possible in the past, the advent of Gaia allows for actually measuring the field in three-dimensions with unprecedented accuracy. I will present an effort towards this goal: tomographic mapping of the magnetic field morphology using dust-induced starlight polarization. By combining information from a diverse set of observables, I will demonstrate what we can learn about the magnetized ISM from such an endeavor.