RESOLVED MAGNETIC FIELD MAPPING OF A MOLECULAR CLOUD USING GPIPS

Journal Article · Mon Aug 20 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/755/2/130· OSTI ID:22039075

Marchwinski, Robert C; Pavel, Michael D

We present the first resolved map of plane-of-sky magnetic field strength for a quiescent molecular cloud. GRSMC 45.60+0.30 subtends 40 Multiplication-Sign 10 pc at a distance of 1.88 kpc, masses 16,000 M{sub Sun }, and exhibits no star formation. Near-infrared background starlight polarizations were obtained for the Galactic Plane Infrared Polarization Survey using the 1.8 m Perkins telescope and the Mimir instrument. The cloud area of 0.78 deg{sup 2} contains 2684 significant starlight polarizations for Two Micron All Sky Survey matched stars brighter than 12.5 mag in the H band. Polarizations are generally aligned with the cloud's major axis, showing an average position angle dispersion of 15 {+-} 2 Degree-Sign and polarization of 1.8 {+-} 0.6%. The polarizations were combined with Galactic Ring Survey {sup 13}CO spectroscopy and the Chandrasekhar-Fermi method to estimate plane-of-sky magnetic field strengths, with an angular resolution of 100 arcsec. The average plane-of-sky magnetic field strength across the cloud is 5.40 {+-} 0.04 {mu}G. The magnetic field strength map exhibits seven enhancements or 'magnetic cores'. These cores show an average magnetic field strength of 8.3 {+-} 0.9 {mu}G, radius of 1.2 {+-} 0.2 pc, intercore spacing of 5.7 {+-} 0.9 pc, and exclusively subcritical mass-to-flux ratios, implying their magnetic fields continue to suppress star formation. The magnetic field strength shows a power-law dependence on gas volume density, with slope 0.75 {+-} 0.02 for n{sub H{sub 2}} {>=}10 cm{sup -3}. This power-law index is identical to those in studies at higher densities, but disagrees with predictions for the densities probed here.

• OSTI ID: 22039075
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 755; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
CARBON 13
DENSITY
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
INDEXES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAPPING
POLARIZATION
RESOLUTION
STARS