Magnetic field structure in the Taurus dark cloud

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (150) References (31) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Magnetic field structure in the Taurus dark cloud. Moneti, A. ; Pipher, J. L. ; Helfer, H. L. ; McMillan, R. S. ; Perry, M. L. Abstract Optical and infrared polarimetry of sources in the direction of the Taurus cloud are obtained in order to study the magnetic field in this cloud and its possible role in the cloud's evolution. Most of the stars are background giant stars whose light shines through the cloud and is polarized by the cloud material. The transverse component of the magnetic field, as delineated by the polarization vectors, is generally perpendicular to the galactic plane, and the stratified structure of the cloud could be due to the effect of the magnetic field during the early stages of collapse. Three of the 13 embedded stars are strongly polarized with position angles nearly perpendicular to those of nearby field stars. The polarization of these stars is most likely intrinsic, and the direction of polarization indicates that the material surrounding these stars may be magnetic i.e., that the magnetic field is frozen in this material. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: July 1984 DOI: 10.1086/162228 Bibcode: 1984ApJ...282..508M Keywords: Interstellar Magnetic Fields; Nebulae; T Tauri Stars; Infrared Spectra; Interstellar Extinction; Magnetic Field Configurations; Polarimetry; Visible Spectrum; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (250)