Analysis of the magnetic fields in massive young stellar objects with masers

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic fields in massive young stellar objects using methanol masers, revealing their potential role in maser flares and stellar magnetic activity.

Contribution

It provides new estimates of magnetic field strengths and distances in star-forming regions, highlighting magnetic fields' influence on maser phenomena.

Findings

Magnetic fields range from 590 to 1880 G in the regions studied.

Distances from star to maser regions are 380-620 au.

Magnetic reconnection may trigger maser flares.

Abstract

We analyze observational data on methanol masers in the disks of young massive stellar objects in the massive star formation regions: NGC6334I, G33.641-0.228, G12.89+0.49. Special attention is paid to analysis of the magnetic fields and their possible connection with maser flares. For this purpose, we estimate the distance from star to maser, the magnetospheric radius and magnetic field strength in the region of this radius. The distances from stars to masing regions lie in range from 380 to 620 au. Stellar and disk's magnetic field strengths are comparable at the magnetosphere boundary and lie in the range from 590 to 1880 G for considered objects. Our estimates show that the magnetic fields may play an important role in the considered regions. In particular, observed luminosity bursts and maser flares may be related to magnetic reconnection events near the stars.