Misalignment of Magnetic Fields and Outflows in Protostellar Cores

TL;DR

This study uses dust polarization observations to show that magnetic fields and outflows in protostellar cores are often misaligned, suggesting that disks may not be aligned with the core magnetic fields during formation.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence that magnetic fields and outflows in protostellar cores are frequently misaligned, challenging assumptions about their alignment during star formation.

Findings

Magnetic fields are not tightly aligned with outflows in protostellar cores.

Outflows and magnetic fields are often perpendicular or randomly aligned.

Disks may not be aligned with core magnetic fields during formation.

Abstract

We present results of 1.3 mm dust polarization observations toward 16 nearby, low-mass protostars, mapped with ~2.5" resolution at CARMA. The results show that magnetic fields in protostellar cores on scales of ~1000 AU are not tightly aligned with outflows from the protostars. Rather, the data are consistent with scenarios where outflows and magnetic fields are preferentially misaligned (perpendicular), or where they are randomly aligned. If one assumes that outflows emerge along the rotation axes of circumstellar disks, and that the outflows have not disrupted the fields in the surrounding material, then our results imply that the disks are not aligned with the fields in the cores from which they formed.