2006A&A...448..133K

We observed the nearby early-type spiral galaxy NGC 4594 (M104, Sombrero galaxy) with the Very Large Array at 4.86GHz, with the Effelsberg 100-m telescope at 8.35GHz as well as with the Heinrich Hertz Telescope at 345GHz in radio continuum. The 4.86 and 8.35GHz data contain polarization information and hence information about the magnetic fields: we detected a large-scale magnetic field which is to our knowledge the first detection of a large-scale magnetic field in an Sa galaxy in the radio range. The magnetic field orientation in M104 is predominantly parallel to the disk but has also vertical components at larger z-distances from the disk. This field configuration is typical for normal edge-on spiral galaxies. The 345GHz data pertain to the cold dust content of the galaxy. Despite the optical appearance of the object with the huge dust lane, its dust content is smaller than that of more late-type spirals.