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Main Authors: Wang, Lijun, Cao, Zhuo, Fan, Xiaodan, Li, Hua-bai
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.15280
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author Wang, Lijun
Cao, Zhuo
Fan, Xiaodan
Li, Hua-bai
author_facet Wang, Lijun
Cao, Zhuo
Fan, Xiaodan
Li, Hua-bai
contents The formation of protostellar disks is still a mystery, largely due to the difficulties in observations that can constrain theories. For example, the 3D alignment between the rotation of the disk and the magnetic fields (B-fields) in the formation environment is critical in some models, but so far impossible to observe. Here, we study the possibility of probing the alignment between B-field and disk rotation using ``polarization holes'' (PHs). PHs are widely observed and are caused by unresolved B-field structures. With ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, we demonstrate that different initial alignments between B-field and angular momentum (AM) can result in B-field structures that are distinct enough to produce distinguishable PHs. Thus PHs can potentially serve as probes for alignments between B-field and AM in disk formation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_15280
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Polarization Holes as an Indicator of Magnetic Field-Angular Momentum Alignment I. Initial Tests
Wang, Lijun
Cao, Zhuo
Fan, Xiaodan
Li, Hua-bai
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Applications
The formation of protostellar disks is still a mystery, largely due to the difficulties in observations that can constrain theories. For example, the 3D alignment between the rotation of the disk and the magnetic fields (B-fields) in the formation environment is critical in some models, but so far impossible to observe. Here, we study the possibility of probing the alignment between B-field and disk rotation using ``polarization holes'' (PHs). PHs are widely observed and are caused by unresolved B-field structures. With ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, we demonstrate that different initial alignments between B-field and angular momentum (AM) can result in B-field structures that are distinct enough to produce distinguishable PHs. Thus PHs can potentially serve as probes for alignments between B-field and AM in disk formation.
title Polarization Holes as an Indicator of Magnetic Field-Angular Momentum Alignment I. Initial Tests
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Applications
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.15280