Aims. The shape of low-frequency radio continuum spectra of normal galaxies is not well understood, the key question being the role of physical processes such as thermal absorption in shaping them. In this work we take advantage of the LOFAR Multifrequency Snapshot Sky Survey (MSSS) to investigate such spectra for a large sample of nearby star-forming galaxies. Methods. Using the measured 150 MHz flux densities from the LOFAR MSSS survey and literature flux densities at various frequencies we have obtained integrated radio spectra for 106 galaxies characterised by different morphology and star formation rate. The spectra are explained through the use of a three-dimensional model of galaxy radio emission, and radiation transfer dependent on the galaxy viewing angle and absorption processes. Results. Our galaxies' spectra are generally flatter at lower compared to higher frequencies: the median spectral index α low measured between ≈50 MHz and 1.5 GHz is −0.57 ± 0.01 while the high-frequency one α high , calculated between 1.3 GHz and 5 GHz, is −0.77 ± 0.03. As there is no tendency for the highly inclined galaxies to have more flattened low-frequency spectra, we argue that the observed flattening is not due to thermal absorption, contradicting the suggestion of Israel & Mahoney (1990). According to our modelled radio maps for M 51-like galaxies, the free-free absorption effects can be seen only below 30 MHz and in the global spectra just below 20 MHz, while in the spectra of starburst galaxies, like M 82, the flattening due to absorption is instead visible up to higher frequencies of about 150 MHz. Starbursts are however scarce in the local Universe, in accordance with the weak spectral curvature seen in the galaxies of our sample. Locally, within galactic disks, the absorption effects are distinctly visible in M 51-like galaxies as spectral flattening around 100-200 MHz in the face-on objects, and as turnovers in the edge-on ones, while in M 82-like galaxies there are strong turnovers at frequencies above 700 MHz, regardless of viewing angle. Conclusions. Our modelling of galaxy spectra suggests that the weak spectral flattening observed in the nearby galaxies studied here results principally from synchrotron spectral curvature due to cosmic ray energy losses and propagation effects. We predict much stronger effects of thermal absorption in more distant galaxies with high star formation rates. Some influence exerted by the Milky Way's foreground on the spectra of all external galaxies is also expected at very low frequencies.

Context. For the first time, our magnetohydrodynamical numerical calculations provide results for a three-dimensional model of barred galaxies involving a cosmic-ray driven dynamo process that depends on star formation rates. Furthermore, we argue that the cosmic-ray driven dynamo can account for a number of magnetic features in barred galaxies, such as magnetic arms observed along the gaseous arms, magnetic arms in the inter-arm regions, polarized emission that is at the strongest in the central part of the galaxy, where the bar is situated, polarized emission that forms ridges coinciding with the dust lanes along the leading edges of the bar, as well as their very strong total radio intensity. Aims. Our numerical model probes what kind of physical processes could be responsible for the magnetic field topology observed in barred galaxies (modes, etc.). We compare our modelled results directly with observations, constructing models of high-frequency (Faraday rotation-free) polarized radio emission maps out of the simulated magnetic field and cosmic ray pattern in our modeled galaxy. We also take the effects of projection into account as well as the limited resolution. Methods. We applied global 3D numerical calculations of a cosmic-ray driven dynamo in barred galaxies with different physical input parameters such as the supernova (SN) rate. Results. Our simulation results lead to the modelled magnetic field structure similar to the one observed on the radio maps of barred galaxies. Moreover, they cast new light on a number of properties in barred and spiral galaxies, such as fast exponential growth of the total magnetic energy to the present values. The quadrupole modes of magnetic field are often identified in barred galaxies, but the dipole modes (e.g., in NGC 4631) are found very seldom. In our simulations the quadrupole configuration dominates and the dipole configuration only appears once in the case of model S100, apparently as a consequence of the choice of the random number seed. Synthetic radio maps of our models display X-type structure similar to what is observed in real galaxies. Conclusions. We conclude that a cosmic-ray driven dynamo process in barred galaxies can amplify magnetic fields efficiently. The fastest rate of magnetic field increase is 195 yr for a SN frequency of 1/50 yr −1 .The obtained strength of magnetic field corresponds to the observational values (a few μG in spiral arms). The polarization and rotation measure maps also agree with observations. We found the effect of shifting magnetic arms in 4 models (out of the sample of 5).

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Reconnection is an important process that rules dissipation and diffusion of magnetic energy in plasmas. It is already clear that its rate is enhanced by turbulence and that reconnection itself may increase its stochasticity, but the main mechanism that connects these two effects is still not completely understood. The aim of this work is to identify, from the terms of the electromotive force, the dominant physical process responsible for enhancing the reconnection rate in turbulent plasmas. We employ full three-dimensional numerical simulations of turbulence driven by stochastic reconnection and estimate the production and dissipation of turbulent energy and cross-helicity, the amount of produced residual helicity, and determine the relation between these quantities and the reconnection rate. We observe the development of the electromotive force in the studied models with plasma-β=0.1−2 and the Lundquist number S=10−5−10−4. The turbulent energy and residual helicity develop in the large-scale current sheet, with the latter decreasing the effects of turbulent magnetic diffusion. We demonstrate that the stochastic reconnection, apart from the turbulence, can produce a finite value of cross-helicity (the magnitude of the turbulent cross-helicity to energy of the order of 10−5−10−3). Under this situation, the cross-helicity to turbulent energy ratio, however, has no correlation with the reconnection rate. We show that in this range of magnitude, the cross-helicity is not a necessary condition for fast reconnection to occur. The results suggest that cross-helicity is inherent to turbulent fields, but the reconnection rate enhancement is possibly caused by the effects of magnetic turbulent diffusion and controlled by the residual helicity.