Is Magnetic Alignment of Interstellar Dust Really Necessary ?

Abstract

IN the past twenty years we have become accustomed to the idea of interstellar grains aligned by magnetic fields. This has come about chiefly because there existed no known alternative mechanism which would yield the general alignment parallel to the galactic plane. Although Gold¹ suggested that turbulent gas flow could produce alignment in the general sense required, Davis² later argued that the Gold effect was more likely to operate in unusual conditions because the degree of turbulence required was usually relatively shortlived.