No Arabic abstract
This paper presents models to estimate the structure of density and magnetic field strength in spheroidal condensations, from maps of their column density and their polarization of magnetically aligned dust grains. The density model is obtained by fitting a column density map with an embedded p = 2 Plummer spheroid of any aspect ratio and inclination. The magnetic properties are based on the density model, on the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi (DCF) model of Alfvenic fluctuations, and on the Spheroid Flux Freezing (SFF) model of mass and flux conservation in Paper I. The field strength model has the resolution of the column density map, which is finer than the resolution of the DCF estimate of field strength. The models are applied to ALMA observations of the envelope of the protostar BHR71 IRS1. Column density fits give the density model, from (2.0 +- 0.4) x 10^5 cm^-3 to (7 +- 1) x 10^7 cm^-3 . The density model predicts the field directions map, which fits the polarization map best within 1100 au, with standard deviation of angle differences 17{deg}. In this region the DCF mean field strength is 0.7 +- 0.2 mG and the envelope mass is supercritical, with ratio of mass to magnetic critical mass 1.5 +- 0.4. The SFF field strength profile scales with the DCF field strength, from 60 x 10{mu}G to 4+-1 mG. The spatial resolution of the SFF field strength estimate is finer than the DCF resolution by a factor ~7, and the peak SFF field strength exceeds the DCF field strength by a factor ~5.
A model of magnetic field structure is presented to help test the prevalence of flux freezing in star-forming clouds of various shapes, orientations, and degrees of central concentration, and to estimate their magnetic field strength. The model is based on weak-field flux freezing in centrally condensed Plummer spheres and spheroids of oblate and prolate shape. For a spheroid of given density contrast, aspect ratio, and inclination, the model estimates the local field strength and direction, and the global field pattern of hourglass shape. Comparisons with a polarization simulation indicate typical angle agreement within 1 - 10 degrees. Scalable analytic expressions are given to match observed polarization patterns, and to provide inputs to radiative transfer codes for more accurate predictions. The model may apply to polarization observations of dense cores, elongated filamentary clouds, and magnetized circumstellar disks.
A debated topic in star formation theory is the role of magnetic fields during the protostellar phase of high-mass stars. It is still unclear how magnetic fields influence the formation and dynamics of massive disks and outflows. Most current information on magnetic fields close to high-mass protostars comes from polarized maser emissions, which allows us to investigate the magnetic field on small scales by using very long-baseline interferometry. The massive star-forming region W75N contains three radio continuum sources (VLA1, VLA2, and VLA3), at three different evolutionary stages, and associated masers, while a large-scale molecular bipolar outflow is also present. Very recently, polarization observations of the 6.7 GHz methanol masers at milliarsecond resolution have been able to probe the strength and structure of the magnetic field over more than 2000 AU around VLA1. The magnetic field is parallel to the outflow, suggesting that VLA1 is its powering source. The observations of water masers at 22 GHz can give more information about the gas dynamics and the magnetic fields around VLA1 and VLA2. The NRAO Very Long Baseline Array was used to measure the linear polarization and the Zeeman-splitting of the 22 GHz water masers in the star-forming region W75N. We detected 124 water masers, 36 around VLA1 and 88 around VLA2 of W75N, which indicate two different physical environments around the two sources, where VLA1 is in a more evolved state. The linear polarization of the masers confirms the tightly ordered magnetic field around VLA1, which is aligned with the large-scale molecular outflow, and also reveals an ordered magnetic field around VLA2, which is not parallel to the outflow. [abridged]
We studied large-scale magnetic field reversals of a galaxy based on a magnetic vector map of NGC6946. The magnetic vector map was constructed based on the polarization maps in the C and X bands after the determination of the geometrical orientation of a disk with the use of an infrared image and the velocity field, according to the trailing spiral arm assumption. We examined the azimuthal variation of the magnetic vector and found that the magnetic pitch angle changes continually as a function of the azimuthal angle in the inter-arm region. However, the direction of the magnetic field had $180^circ$ jumps at the azimuthal angles of $20^circ, 110^circ, 140^circ, 220^circ, 280^circ$, and $330^circ$. These reversals seem to be related to the spiral arms since the locations of the jumps are coincident with those of the spiral arms. These six reversals of the magnetic field were seen only in the inner region of NGC6946 whereas four reversals can be identified in the outer region.
We present the first ALMA dust polarization observations towards the high-mass star-forming regions W51 e2, e8, and W51 North in Band 6 (230 GHz) with a resolution around 0.26 ($sim5$mpc). Polarized emission in all three sources is clearly detected and resolved. Measured relative polarization levels are between 0.1% and 10%. While the absolute polarization shows complicated structures, the relative polarization displays the typical anti-correlation with Stokes $I$, though with a large scatter. Inferred magnetic (B) field morphologies are organized and connected. Detailed substructures are resolved, revealing new features such as cometary-shaped B-field morphologies in satellite cores, symmetrically converging B-field zones, and possibly streamlined morphologies. The local B-field dispersion shows some anti-correlation with the relative polarization. Moreover, lowest polarization percentages together with largest dispersions coincide with B-field convergence zones. We put forward $sinomega$, where $omega$ is the measurable angle between a local B-field orientation and local gravity, as a measure of how effectively the B-field can oppose gravity. Maps of $sinomega$ for all three sources show organized structures that suggest a locally varying role of the B-field, with some regions where gravity can largely act unaffectedly, possibly in a network of narrow magnetic channels, and other regions where the B-field can work maximally against gravity.
We provide a homogeneous set of structural parameters of 83 star clusters located at the periphery of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The clusters stellar density and surface brightness profiles were built from deep, AO assisted optical images, and uniform analysis techniques. The structural parameters were obtained from King and Elson et al. model fittings. Integrated magnitudes and masses (for a subsample) are also provided. The sample contains mostly low surface brightness clusters with distances between 4.5 and 6.5 kpc and between 1 and 6.5 kpc from the LMC and SMC centres, respectively. We analysed their spatial distribution and structural properties, comparing them with those of inner clusters. Half-light and Jacobi radii were estimated, allowing an evaluation of the Roche volume tidal filling. We found that: (i) for our sample of LMC clusters, the tidal radii are, on average, larger than those of inner clusters from previous studies; (ii) the core radii dispersion tends to be greater for LMC clusters located towards the southwest, with position angles of $sim$200 degrees and about $sim$5 degrees from the LMC centre, i.e., those LMC clusters nearer to the SMC; (iii) the core radius evolution for clusters with known age is similar to that of inner clusters; (iv) SMC clusters with galactocentric distances closer than 4 kpc are overfilling; (v) the recent Clouds collision did not leave marks on the LMC clusters structure that our analysis could reveal.