Helical Magnetic Field in a Massive Protostellar Jet

TL;DR

This paper presents the first analysis of the magnetic field structure in a protostellar jet, revealing a helical magnetic field that supports the idea of a universal jet collimation mechanism across astrophysical systems.

Contribution

It provides the first rotation measure analysis of polarized synchrotron emission in a protostellar jet, unveiling its 3D magnetic structure and confirming the presence of a helical magnetic field.

Findings

First evidence of a helical magnetic field in a protostellar jet

Analysis of both jet and counterjet magnetic structures

Supports universal jet collimation mechanisms

Abstract

Highly collimated outflows (jets) are observed across a wide range of astrophysical systems involving the accretion of material onto central objects, from supermassive black holes in active galaxies to proto-brown dwarfs and stellar-mass black holes. Despite the diversity of their driving sources, it is believed that all jets are different manifestations of a single universal phenomenon. However, a unified explanation for their ejection and collimation remains elusive. In this study we present the first rotation measure analysis of the polarized synchrotron emission ever performed in a protostellar radio jet, which allows us to reveal its true 3D magnetic structure. Unlike extragalactic radio jets, which often exhibit faint counterjets, protostellar radio jets allow both the jet and the counterjet to be analyzed. This exceptional circumstance allows us to unveil the magnetic field structure of both components. Our findings provide the first solid evidence for a helical magnetic field within a protostellar jet, supporting the universality of the jet collimation mechanism.