Probing the Galaxy with Superbubbles: Three Dimensional Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations

Physically interesting parameters, such as the age of the bubble and the scale height of the surrounding medium, are usually derived from observations by means of analytic, hydrodynamic bubble models that assume spherical or axial symmetry. To study the importance of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects on the interpretation of observed Galactic superbubbles, we present analysis of three‐dimensional MHD simulations of superbubbles expanding in a magnetized interstellar medium. Specifically, we present fits of axially symmetric models to magnetized bubbles which show that parameters derived from these fits are invalid. In addition, we present Faraday rotation analysis of our simulations which predict rotation measure structures of Galactic superbubbles that aid in the interpretation of observations of polarized diffuse galactic radio emission.