Dr. Dana Alina from Nazarbayev University has lead a team that has revealed the magnetic field structure of the ring-like molecular cloud G111 (near NGC7538, an active star forming region).

The ring shape could have several origins: it could be a remnant of a past massive supernova explosion, or very strong stellar winds; or the result of two colliding clouds of molecular gas. Each option has different magnetic signatures.

Thanks to the IRAM 30-meter telescope, the team obtained high-sensitivity observations of carbon monoxide (CO). Using the Velocity Gradients Technique, they derived a detailed magnetic blueprint of the cloud. Then, they combined these observations with data from telescopes such as the Kanata telescope (Japan) and the Planck satellite.

Their study revealed an ordered magnetic structure that follows the ring’s curvature, the same structure traced by the cold dust.

This suggests that magnetic forces were strong enough to remain organized throughout the cloud’s evolution, possibly guiding the gas motion during either an expansion or a large-scale interaction. This supports the hypotheses of G111 being a past supernova explosion remnant, or a stellar wind-blown structure.

This is not related to ALMA, but enabled by the IRAM-30m, the second largest millimeter-length radio telescope in operation. It is very dear to me because I did my first observations with it… on my namesake's day, March 8 (St. Juan de Dios). And is based in Granada, where I was born!

https://iram-institute.org/newsroom/general/unraveling-the-magnetic-blueprint-of-g111/

#StarFormation #MolecularClouds #IRAM #InstitutoRadioAstronomíaMilimétrica #InstituteRadioAstronomieMillimetrique #IRAM30m #MMAstronomy #MillimeterAstronomy #MagneticFields #CosmicMagnetism