Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations
Magnetic fields ( B -fields) are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium (ISM), and they play an essential role in the formation of molecular clouds and subsequent star formation. However, B -fields in interstellar environments remain challenging to measure, and their properties typically need to be i...
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2024-01-01
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| author | Archana Soam Ka Ho Yuen Ian Stephens Chi Yan Law Ka Wai Ho Simon Coudé |
| author_facet | Archana Soam Ka Ho Yuen Ian Stephens Chi Yan Law Ka Wai Ho Simon Coudé |
| author_sort | Archana Soam |
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| description | Magnetic fields ( B -fields) are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium (ISM), and they play an essential role in the formation of molecular clouds and subsequent star formation. However, B -fields in interstellar environments remain challenging to measure, and their properties typically need to be inferred from dust polarization observations over multiple physical scales. In this work, we seek to use a recently proposed approach called the velocity gradient technique (VGT) to study B -fields in star-forming regions and compare the results with dust polarization observations in different wavelengths. The VGT is based on the anisotropic properties of eddies in magnetized turbulence to derive B -field properties in the ISM. We investigate that this technique is synergistic with dust polarimetry when applied to a turbulent diffused medium for the purpose of measuring its magnetization. Specifically, we use the VGT on molecular line data toward the NGC 1333 star-forming region ( ^12 CO, ^13 CO, C ^18 O, and N _2 H ^+ ), and we compare the derived B -field properties with those inferred from 214 and 850 μ m dust polarization observations of the region using Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy/High-Resolution Airborne Wide-band Camera Plus and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope/POL-2, respectively. We estimate both the inclination angle and the 3D Alfvénic Mach number M _A from the molecular line gradients. Crucially, testing this technique on gravitationally bound, dynamic, and turbulent regions, and comparing the results with those obtained from polarization observations at different wavelengths, such as the plane-of-sky field orientation, is an important test on the applicability of the VGT in various density regimes of the ISM. We in general do not find a close correlation between the velocity gradient inferred orientations and the dust inferred magnetic field orientations. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-90391a4b032c433a8064734498b50b5b2025-08-20T02:05:29ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572024-01-01976225410.3847/1538-4357/ad862eApplying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization ObservationsArchana Soam0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6386-2906Ka Ho Yuen1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1683-9153Ian Stephens2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3017-4418Chi Yan Law3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1964-970XKa Wai Ho4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3328-6300Simon Coudé5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0859-0805Indian Institute of Astrophysics , II Block, Koramangala, Bengaluru 560034, India ; archana.soam@iiap.res.inTheoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA ; kyuen@lanl.govDepartment of Earth, Environment, and Physics, Worcester State University , Worcester, MA 01602, USADepartment of Earth and Space Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology , Gothenburg, Sweden; European Southern Observatory , Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, D-85748 Garching, GermanyTheoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA ; kyuen@lanl.gov; Department of Astronomy, The University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin, WI 53706, USADepartment of Earth, Environment, and Physics, Worcester State University , Worcester, MA 01602, USA; Center for Astrophysics ∣ Harvard & Smithsonian , 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAMagnetic fields ( B -fields) are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium (ISM), and they play an essential role in the formation of molecular clouds and subsequent star formation. However, B -fields in interstellar environments remain challenging to measure, and their properties typically need to be inferred from dust polarization observations over multiple physical scales. In this work, we seek to use a recently proposed approach called the velocity gradient technique (VGT) to study B -fields in star-forming regions and compare the results with dust polarization observations in different wavelengths. The VGT is based on the anisotropic properties of eddies in magnetized turbulence to derive B -field properties in the ISM. We investigate that this technique is synergistic with dust polarimetry when applied to a turbulent diffused medium for the purpose of measuring its magnetization. Specifically, we use the VGT on molecular line data toward the NGC 1333 star-forming region ( ^12 CO, ^13 CO, C ^18 O, and N _2 H ^+ ), and we compare the derived B -field properties with those inferred from 214 and 850 μ m dust polarization observations of the region using Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy/High-Resolution Airborne Wide-band Camera Plus and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope/POL-2, respectively. We estimate both the inclination angle and the 3D Alfvénic Mach number M _A from the molecular line gradients. Crucially, testing this technique on gravitationally bound, dynamic, and turbulent regions, and comparing the results with those obtained from polarization observations at different wavelengths, such as the plane-of-sky field orientation, is an important test on the applicability of the VGT in various density regimes of the ISM. We in general do not find a close correlation between the velocity gradient inferred orientations and the dust inferred magnetic field orientations.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad862eInterstellar mediumDiffuse nebulaeInterstellar magnetic fields |
| spellingShingle | Archana Soam Ka Ho Yuen Ian Stephens Chi Yan Law Ka Wai Ho Simon Coudé Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations The Astrophysical Journal Interstellar medium Diffuse nebulae Interstellar magnetic fields |
| title | Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations |
| title_full | Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations |
| title_fullStr | Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations |
| title_short | Applying the Velocity Gradient Technique in NGC 1333: Comparison with Dust Polarization Observations |
| title_sort | applying the velocity gradient technique in ngc 1333 comparison with dust polarization observations |
| topic | Interstellar medium Diffuse nebulae Interstellar magnetic fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad862e |
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