Ion-Neutral Drift Velocity as a Diagnostic of Dust Growth and Magnetic Field in Star-Forming Environments
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arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866908811024924672 |
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| author | Fukihara, Haruka Tsukamoto, Yusuke Hirashita, Hiroyuki Arzoumanian, Doris Misugi, Yoshiaki |
| author_facet | Fukihara, Haruka Tsukamoto, Yusuke Hirashita, Hiroyuki Arzoumanian, Doris Misugi, Yoshiaki |
| contents | Recent observations have revealed that the ion-neutral drift velocity in star-forming molecular clouds and dense cores is on the order of 100 m s^-1. Theoretical studies have shown that, in ambipolar diffusion, the process responsible for the differential motion between ions and neutrals, the dust size distribution has a significant impact on the magnetic resistivities. In this study, we perform simulations to investigate how dust growth through accretion and coagulation affects the ion-neutral drift velocity in molecular clouds and cores. We find that, on core scales, both dust growth and a magnetic field strength of 200 microgauss are required to reproduce the observed drift velocity. We suggest that measurements of ion-neutral drift velocity, particularly on core scales, may serve as a new diagnostic to constrain the dust size distribution and magnetic field strength in such environments. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_01333 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Ion-Neutral Drift Velocity as a Diagnostic of Dust Growth and Magnetic Field in Star-Forming Environments Fukihara, Haruka Tsukamoto, Yusuke Hirashita, Hiroyuki Arzoumanian, Doris Misugi, Yoshiaki Astrophysics of Galaxies Recent observations have revealed that the ion-neutral drift velocity in star-forming molecular clouds and dense cores is on the order of 100 m s^-1. Theoretical studies have shown that, in ambipolar diffusion, the process responsible for the differential motion between ions and neutrals, the dust size distribution has a significant impact on the magnetic resistivities. In this study, we perform simulations to investigate how dust growth through accretion and coagulation affects the ion-neutral drift velocity in molecular clouds and cores. We find that, on core scales, both dust growth and a magnetic field strength of 200 microgauss are required to reproduce the observed drift velocity. We suggest that measurements of ion-neutral drift velocity, particularly on core scales, may serve as a new diagnostic to constrain the dust size distribution and magnetic field strength in such environments. |
| title | Ion-Neutral Drift Velocity as a Diagnostic of Dust Growth and Magnetic Field in Star-Forming Environments |
| topic | Astrophysics of Galaxies |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.01333 |