Curvature Mapping Method: Mapping Lorentz Force in Orion A

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Zhao, Mengke, Li, Guang-Xing, Qiu, Keping
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Zhao, Mengke
Li, Guang-Xing
Qiu, Keping
author_facet Zhao, Mengke
Li, Guang-Xing
Qiu, Keping
contents Magnetic force is a fundamental force in nature. Although widely believed to be important in counterbalancing against collapse in star formation, a clear evaluation of the role of the magnetic field in star formation remains hard to achieve. Past research attempts to evaluate the importance of magnetic forces using diagnostics such as the mass-to-flux ratio, which measures its strength but not how it functions. Since star formation is a complex process and the observed regions have complex structures, mapping the importance of the magnetic field is necessary. We propose a new technique, the Curvature Mapping Method, to evaluate the role of the magnetic force by providing maps of the magnetic force estimated using polarization observations. The Curvature Mapping Method provides maps with the contribution of the magnetic force clearly outlined. We apply the method to the star formation region of Orion A and provide a first quantitative result where the magnetic force arising from the pinched magnetic field does provide support against gravity. By comparing it against the gravitational force, we find that the magnetic force is enough to affect the low-density gas but is insufficient to support the dense region from collapse. The method effectively uses information contained in polarization maps and can be applied to data from surveys to understand the role of the B-field.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2408_09690
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Curvature Mapping Method: Mapping Lorentz Force in Orion A
Zhao, Mengke
Li, Guang-Xing
Qiu, Keping
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Magnetic force is a fundamental force in nature. Although widely believed to be important in counterbalancing against collapse in star formation, a clear evaluation of the role of the magnetic field in star formation remains hard to achieve. Past research attempts to evaluate the importance of magnetic forces using diagnostics such as the mass-to-flux ratio, which measures its strength but not how it functions. Since star formation is a complex process and the observed regions have complex structures, mapping the importance of the magnetic field is necessary. We propose a new technique, the Curvature Mapping Method, to evaluate the role of the magnetic force by providing maps of the magnetic force estimated using polarization observations. The Curvature Mapping Method provides maps with the contribution of the magnetic force clearly outlined. We apply the method to the star formation region of Orion A and provide a first quantitative result where the magnetic force arising from the pinched magnetic field does provide support against gravity. By comparing it against the gravitational force, we find that the magnetic force is enough to affect the low-density gas but is insufficient to support the dense region from collapse. The method effectively uses information contained in polarization maps and can be applied to data from surveys to understand the role of the B-field.
title Curvature Mapping Method: Mapping Lorentz Force in Orion A
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.09690