LARGE-SCALE MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE MONOCEROS OB 1 EAST MOLECULAR CLOUD
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Date
2022
Authors
Alina, D.
Montillaud, J.
Hu, Y.
Lazarian, A.
Ristorcelli, I.
Abdikamalov, E.
Sagynbayeva, S.
Juvela, M.
Liu, T.
Carrière, J.-S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Abstract
Context. The role of large-scale magnetic fields in the evolution of star-forming regions remains elusive. Its investigation requires
the observational characterization of well-constrained molecular clouds. The Monoceros OB 1 molecular cloud is a large complex
containing several structures that have been shown to be engaged in an active interaction and to have a rich star formation history.
However, the magnetic fields in this region have only been studied on small scales.
Aims. We study the large-scale magnetic field structure and its interplay with the gas dynamics in the Monoceros OB 1 east molecular
cloud.
Methods. We combined observations of dust polarized emission from the Planck telescope and CO molecular line emission obser vations from the Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory 14-metre telescope. We calculated the strength of the plane-of-sky magnetic
field using a modified Chandrasekhar-Fermi method and estimated the mass-over-flux ratios in different regions of the cloud. We used
the comparison of the velocity and intensity gradients of the molecular line observations with the polarimetric observations to trace
dynamically active regions.
Results. The molecular complex shows an ordered large-scale plane-of-sky magnetic field structure. In the northern part, it is mostly
orientated along the filamentary structures, while the southern part shows at least two regions with distinct magnetic field orientations.
Our analysis reveals a shock region in the northern part right between two filamentary clouds that, in previous studies, were suggested
to be involved in a collision. The magnetic properties of the north-main and north-eastern filaments suggest that these filaments once
formed a single one, and that the magnetic field evolved together with the material and did not undergo major changes during the
evolution of the cloud. In the southern part, we find that either the magnetic field guides the accretion of interstellar matter towards the
cloud or it is dragged by the matter falling towards the main cloud.
Conclusions. The large-scale magnetic field in the Monoceros OB 1 east molecular cloud is tightly connected to the global structure
of the complex. In the northern part, it seems to serve a dynamically important role by possibly providing support against gravity in
the direction perpendicular to the field and to the filament. In the southern part, it is probably the most influential factor governing the
morphological structure by guiding possible gas inflow. A study of the whole Monoceros OB 1 molecular complex at large scales is
necessary to form a global picture of the formation and evolution of the Monoceros OB 1 east cloud and the role of the magnetic field
in this process.
Description
Keywords
Type of access: Open Access, ISM: magnetic fields, ISM: clouds, ISM: general
Citation
Alina, D., Montillaud, J., Hu, Y., Lazarian, A., Ristorcelli, I., Abdikamalov, E., Sagynbayeva, S., Juvela, M., Liu, T., & Carrière, J. S. (2022). Large-scale magnetic field in the Monoceros OB 1 east molecular cloud. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 658, A90. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202039065