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NEAR-INFRARED-IMAGING POLARIMETRY TOWARD SERPENS SOUTH: REVEALING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD.

Authors :
SUGITANI, K.
NAKAMURA, F.
WATANABE, M.
TAMURA, M.
NISHIYAMA, S.
NAGAYAMA, T.
KANDORI, R.
NAGATA, T.
SATO, S.
GUTERMUTH, R. A.
WILSON, G. W.
KAWABE, R.
Source :
Astrophysical Journal. Jun2011, Vol. 734 Issue 1, p1-8. 8p.
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

The Serpens South embedded cluster, which is located in the constricted part of a long, filamentary, infrared dark cloud, is believed to be in a very early stage of cluster formation. We present results of near-infrared (JHKs) polarization observations of the filamentary cloud. Our polarization measurements of near-infrared point sources indicate a well-ordered global magnetic field that is perpendicular to the main filament, implying that the magnetic field is likely to have controlled the formation of the main filament. On the other hand, the sub-filaments, which converge on the central part of the cluster, tend to run along the magnetic field. The global magnetic field appears to be curved in the southern part of the main filament, Such morphology is consistent with the idea that the global magnetic field is distorted by gravitational contraction along the main filament toward the northern part, which contains larger mass. Applying the Chandrasekhar-Fermi method, the magnetic field strength is roughly estimated to be a few × 100 μG, suggesting that the filamentary cloud is close to magnetically critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0004637X
Volume :
734
Issue :
1
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Astrophysical Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
83589361
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/734/1/63