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Using the Effelsberg radio telescope at 4.85GHz and 8.35 GHz we discovered large symmetric lobes of polarized radio emission around the strongly HI deficient Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC4569. These lobes extend up to 24 kpc from the galactic disk. Our observations were complemented by 1.4 GHz continuum emission from existing HI observations. This is the first time that such huge radio continuum lobes are observed in a cluster spiral galaxy. The eastern lobe seems detached and has a flat spectrum typical for in-situ cosmic ray electron acceleration. The western lobe is diffuse and possesses vertical magnetic fields over its whole volume. The lobes are not powered by an AGN, but probably by a nuclear starburst producing >10^5 supernovae which occurred ~30 Myr ago. Since the radio lobes are symmetric, they resist ram pressure due to the galaxy's rapid motion within the intracluster medium., Accepted for publication in A&A, 8 pages, 6 figures

We present a high-resolution VLA study of the total power and polarized radio 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 strong galaxy-scale regular magnetic fields, which is surprising because of a lack 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, comparable to that of the total magnetic field strength in radio-bright spirals. The 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 concepts 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 revised., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&A, ps-file with the full paper at: http://www.oa.uj.edu.pl/~chris/publ/9419.ps.gz

In this letter we present first results from spectroscopic observations of Diffuse Ionized Gas (DIG) in the halo of NGC5775 obtained with FORS1 attached to UT1/Antu of the Very Large Telescope (VLT). At our slit position perpendicular to the disk (41" SE of the nucleus) the emission of [NII]6583, [OIII]5007, and [OII]3727 is detected out to 9 kpc into the halo, allowing possible ionization mechanisms of the DIG to be examined. Photoionization models which assume a dilute radiation field are able to fit the data for the disk, but they cannot account for the line ratios measured in the halo (e.g., [OI]/Halpha or [OII]/Halpha). In particular they fail to predict the observed increase of [OIII]5007/Halpha with increasing z. The most striking result concerns the kinematics of the halo gas. Velocities at high galactic latitudes drop from the midplane value to reach the systemic velocity at z ~ 9 kpc. An analysis of VLA archive data of the polarized radio-continuum emission at 4.86 GHz and 1.49 GHz reveals that magnetic fields in the halo have a strong component perpendicular to the disk and are aligned with the Halpha and radio-continuum spurs in the halo. This can result either from a strong wind action or, more likely, from the generation of dipolar magnetic fields. We briefly discuss the interrelation of the magnetic field structure and gas dynamics, in particular the role of magnetic fields in gas outflows, as well as the possible heating of DIG by magnetic reconnection., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A letters. For high quality figures, see http://www.astro.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/astro/publications/pub2000.html

Two flocculent galaxies NGC 3521 and NGC 5055 has been observed at 10.55GHz with the Effelsberg 100m telescope. In both cases polarized emission reveals substantial radial component of regular magnetic field - similar to that in grand-designed spirals. Comparison with H_alpha distribution obtained at Lowell Observatory is presented. Polarization models discussed, support modern non-standard dynamo concepts for magnetic field generation in galaxies., Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, A&A in print

We present 10.55 GHz observations of strong density-wave spiral NGC 3627. Total power and polarization maps with a resolution of 1.13', sensitive to a weak extended emmision were obtained. In the analysiz we used also available data in the CO ans H_alpha lines. We present simple modelling results showing the imprtance of large-scale dynamo-type magnetic field present despite the strong density-wave action in this galaxy., Comment: 10 pages (including 10 figures); A&A accepted (1999)