Magnetic Fields in Massive Star-forming Regions (MagMaR). VI. Magnetic Field Dragging in the Filamentary High-mass Star-forming Region G35.20--0.74N due to Gravity

TL;DR

This study examines magnetic fields in the high-mass star-forming filament G35.20-0.74N, revealing how gravity influences magnetic field dragging and core formation, with detailed measurements of magnetic strength, orientation, and gas dynamics.

Contribution

It provides new observational evidence of magnetic field dragging by gravity in a filamentary star-forming region, linking magnetic field morphology with gas motion and core formation processes.

Findings

Magnetic field strengths range from 0.2 to 4.4 mG.

Magnetic fields are roughly perpendicular to the filament at large scales.

Core spacings suggest filament fragmentation and core migration over 10^4 years.

Abstract

We investigate the magnetic field orientation and strength in the massive star-forming region G35.20-0.74N (G35), using polarized dust emission data obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) as part of the Magnetic fields in Massive star-forming Regions (MagMaR) survey. The G35 region shows a filamentary structure (a length of $\sim$0.1 pc) with six bright cores located along the filament's long axis. Magnetic field strengths across the G35 region range from 0.2 to 4.4 mG with a mean value of 0.8 $\pm$ 0.4 mG. The mass-to-flux ratio ($\lambda$) varies from 0.1 to 6.0 the critical value. The highest values are found locally around cores, whereas the remains of the filament are subcritical. A H$^{13}$CO$^+$ (3--2) velocity gradient of 29 km s$^{-1}$ pc$^{-1}$ is evident along the filament's long axis, aligned with the magnetic field direction. At larger scales ($\sim$0.1 pc), the magnetic field lines appear roughly perpendicular to the filament's long axis, in contrast to the smaller-scale structure ($\sim$0.003 pc) traced by ALMA. The magnetic field lines could be dragged along the filament as a result of the gas motion induced by the gravitational potential of the filament. Six cores in the filament have similar spacings between 0.02--0.04 pc. The initial filament fragmentation could have produced a core spacing of 0.06 pc, following filament fragmentation theory, and the current core spacing is the result of cores comoving with the gas along the filament. This core migration could occur in a few 10$^4$ years, consistent with high-mass star formation time scales.