Interferometric mapping of magnetic fields: The ALMA view of the massive star-forming clump W43-MM1

Paulo C. Cortes, Josep M. Girart, Charles L.H. Hull, Tirupati K. Sridharan, Fabien Louvet, Richard Plambeck, Zhi Yun Li, Richard M. Crutcher, Shih Ping Lai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Here, we present the first results from ALMA observations of 1 mm polarized dust emission toward the W43-MM1 high-mass star-forming clump. We have detected a highly fragmented filament with source masses ranging from 14 M to 312 M, where the largest fragment, source A, is believed to be one of the most massive in our Galaxy. We found a smooth, ordered, and detailed polarization pattern throughout the filament, which we used to derived magnetic field morphologies and strengths for 12 out of the 15 fragments detected ranging from 0.2 to 9 mG. The dynamical equilibrium of each fragment was evaluated finding that all the fragments are in a super-critical state that is consistent with previously detected infalling motions toward W43-MM1. Moreover, there are indications suggesting that the field is being dragged by gravity as the whole filament is collapsing.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL15
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume825
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2016

Keywords

  • ISM: clouds
  • ISM: kinematics and dynamics
  • ISM: magnetic fields

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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