Very long baseline array observations of the Zeeman effect in H2O masers in W3 IRS 5

A. P. Sarma, T. H. Troland, J. D. Romney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations of the Zeeman effect in H2O masers in W3 IRS 5. These observations have yielded the first ultrahigh spatial resolution maps of the magnetic field in a star-forming region measured via the Zeeman effect - masers for which we can independently measure the magnetic field are separated by ≤25 mas (60 AU). This is the first VLBA detection of the Zeeman effect in H2O masers in a star-forming region. These observations also remove the confusion in observed magnetic fields from closely spaced masers. We shall explicitly demonstrate that observations at lower resolution can yield lower magnetic fields than with the VLBA, even though there are no field reversals within the larger beam.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L217-L220
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume554
Issue number2 PART 2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 20 2001

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
4The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Funding

4The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation (NSF)AST 99-88341
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
University of Kentucky

    Keywords

    • ISM: clouds
    • ISM: magnetic fields
    • Masers
    • Polarization
    • Radio lines: ISM

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
    • Space and Planetary Science

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