Multi-scale Dust Polarization and Spiral-like Stokes-I Residual in the Class I Protostellar System TMC-1A

TL;DR

This study uses SMA and ALMA observations to analyze magnetic fields, dust polarization, and a spiral-like residual in the Class I protostar TMC-1A, revealing complex magnetic and dust structures and infalling spiral material.

Contribution

First detailed polarization and magnetic field analysis of TMC-1A at multiple scales, identifying dust self-scattering, magnetic field orientations, and a novel spiral-like residual in total intensity.

Findings

Magnetic field strength estimated at 1-5 mG in the envelope.

Detection of azimuthal polarization in the disk indicating dust self-scattering.

Discovery of a spiral-like residual with infalling material at 20% of Keplerian speed.

Abstract

We have observed the Class I protostar TMC-1A in the Taurus molecular cloud using the Submillimeter Array (SMA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in the linearly polarized 1.3 mm continuum emission at angular resolutions of ~3" and ~0.3", respectively. The ALMA observations also include CO, 13CO, and C18O J=2-1 spectral lines. The SMA observations trace magnetic fields on the 1000-au scale, the directions of which are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the outflow direction. Applying the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method to the SMA polarization angle dispersion, we estimate a field strength in the TMC-1A envelope of 1-5 mG. It is consistent with the field strength needed to reduce the radial infall velocity to the observed value, which is substantially less than the local} free-fall velocity. The ALMA polarization observations consist of two distinct components -- a central component and a north/south component. The central component shows polarization directions in the disk minor axis to be azimuthal, suggesting dust self-scattering in the TMC-1A disk. The north/south component is located along the outflow axis and the polarization directions are aligned with the outflow direction. We discuss possible origins of this polarization structure, including grain alignment by a toroidal magnetic field and mechanical alignment by the gaseous outflow. In addition, we discover a spiral-like residual in the total intensity (Stokes I) for the first time. The C18O emission suggests that material in the spiral-like structure is infalling at a speed that is 20% of the local Keplerian speed.