您选择的条件: Ramotholo Sefako
  • Strong Magnetic Fields Play Important Role in the Filamentary Infrared Dark Cloud G11.11-0.12

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We report on the near-infrared polarimetric observations of G11.11--0.12 with the 1.4 m IRSF telescope. The starlight polarization of the background stars reveals the magnetic fields in the envelope of G11.11--0.12, which are consistent in orientation with the magnetic fields obtained from submillimeter dust polarization. The magnetic fields in G11.11--0.12 are perpendicular to the filament in a large column density range, independent of the relative orientations of G11.11--0.12. The field strength on the plane of the sky in G11.11--0.12 has a typical value of $152\pm17\,\mu$G. The analyses of the magnetic fields and gas velocity dispersion indicate that the envelope of G11.11--0.12 is supersonic and sub-Alfv{\'e}nic to trans-Alfv{\'e}nic. The mass-to-flux ratio in the outer part of the envelope is $\lesssim 1$ and slightly increases to $\gtrsim 1$ closer to the filament. The weights on the relative importance of magnetic fields, turbulence and gravity indicate that gravity has been dominating the dynamical state of G11.11--0.12, with significant contribution from magnetic fields. The field strength increases slower than the gas density from the envelope to the spine of G11.11--0.12, characterized by the relation $B\propto n^{0.2}$. The observed strength and orientation of magnetic fields in G11.11--0.12 imply that supersonic gas flow is channelled by sub-Alfv{\'e}nic magnetic fields and is assembled into filaments perpendicular to the magnetic fields. The formation of low-mass stars is enhanced in the filaments with high column density, in agreement with the excess in numbers of low-mass protostars detected in one of the densest part of G11.11--0.12.

  • The Role of Magnetic Fields in Triggered Star Formation of RCW 120

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: We report on the near-infrared polarimetric observations of RCW 120 with the 1.4 m IRSF telescope. The starlight polarization of the background stars reveals for the first time the magnetic field of RCW 120. The global magnetic field of RCW 120 is along the direction of $20^\circ$, parallel to the Galactic plane. The field strength on the plane of the sky is $100\pm26\,\mu$G. The magnetic field around the eastern shell shows evidence of compression by the HII region. The external pressure (turbulent pressure + magnetic pressure) and the gas density of the ambient cloud are minimum along the direction where RCW 120 breaks out, which explains the observed elongation of RCW 120. The dynamical age of RCW 120, depending on the magnetic field strength, is $\sim\,1.6\,\mathrm{Myr}$ for field strength of $100\,\mu$G, older than the hydrodynamic estimates. In direction perpendicular to the magnetic field, the density contrast of the western shell is greatly reduced by the strong magnetic field. The strong magnetic field in general reduces the efficiency of triggered star formation, in comparison with the hydrodynamic estimates. Triggered star formation via the "collect and collapse" mechanism could occur in the direction along the magnetic field. Core formation efficiency (CFE) is found to be higher in the southern and eastern shells of RCW 120 than in the infrared dark cloud receiving little influence from the HII region, suggesting increase in the CFE related to triggering from ionization feedback.

  • TESS Discovery of Twin Planets near 2:1 Resonance around Early M-Dwarf TOI 4342

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: With data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), we showcase improvements to the MIT Quick-Look Pipeline (QLP) through the discovery and validation of a multi-planet system around M-dwarf TOI 4342 ($T_{mag}=11.032$, $M_* = 0.63 M_\odot$, $R_* = 0.60 R_\odot$, $T_{eff} = 3900$ K, $d = 61.54$ pc). With updates to QLP, including a new multi-planet search, as well as faster cadence data from TESS' First Extended Mission, we discovered two sub-Neptunes ($R_b = 2.266_{-0.038}^{+0.038} R_\oplus$ and $R_c = 2.415_{-0.040}^{+0.043} R_\oplus$; $P_b$ = 5.538 days and $P_c$ = 10.689 days) and validated them with ground-based photometry, spectra, and speckle imaging. Both planets notably have high transmission spectroscopy metrics (TSMs) of 36 and 32, making TOI 4342 one of the best systems for comparative atmospheric studies. This system demonstrates how improvements to QLP, along with faster cadence Full-Frame Images (FFIs), can lead to the discovery of new multi-planet systems.