Twisted Magnetic Fields Reveals New Insights On Star Formation

Researchers have captured images, which show that material rotating around a very young protostar dragged in and twisted magnetic fields from the larger area that surrounds the star. The researchers made the discovery using the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope. This finding is shedding new light on the dusty disks, which is the raw material for planet formation grows around young stars.

The researchers studied a young protostar that was 750 light-years away from earth that is found in the constellation Perseus, according to a news release. The team made their observations back in 2013 and 2014, where they measured the alignment, (polarization) of radio waves emitted by material, mostly dust, falling into a burgeoning disk orbiting the young star. Their results revealed a great deal on the layout of magnetic fields in this region around the star.

"The alignment of magnetic fields in this region near young stars is very important to the development of the disks that orbit them," Leslie Looney, co-author of the study, said in a news release. "Depending on its alignment, the magnetic field can either hinder the growth of the disk or help funnel material onto the disk, allowing it to grow."

Materials such as dust and gas surrounds the young star and falls inwards towards the rotating disk, where it likely drags magnetic field lines with it. As a result the magnetic field near the star becomes different from the field's structure that is distant.

The researchers' observations revealed that millimeter- to centimeter-sized particles are numerous in the disk surrounding the young star. The protostar is 10,000 years old and since it is still young, eventually the particles can form and grow quickly in the environment of a still-forming star.

"Our VLA observations are showing us this region, where the change in shape of the magnetic field is taking place," said Erin Cox, co-author of the study.

The findings of this study were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Related Articles 

Terzan 1: Hubble Spots Globular Cluster

Asteroid Passes Earth, Looks Better Second Time 

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).