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Hauyu Baobab Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Hauyu Baobab Liu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Multi-Scale Magnetic Field Observations Reveal how Colliding Flows Trigger Star Formation

Magnetic fields play a crucial yet complex role in star formation, while their connection between large-scale filamentary clouds and small-scale young stellar objects remains poorly understood. We present new continuum polarization observations from the JCMT, ACA, and ALMA that provide continuous magnetic field measurements from approximately 5 pc down to approximately 4000 au, tracing for the first time the evolution of field morphology seamlessly across all key scales within a massive star-forming system. Our polarization maps reveal multiple U-shaped magnetic field structures pointing toward the central protocluster, aligned with accreting filaments from parsec to subparsec scales and converging at the compact center. This morphology suggests an environment of colliding flows that drag magnetic fields and trigger massive protocluster formation. On approximately 4000 au scales, we identify compact U-shaped fields likely guiding the kinematics of streamers accreting onto dense cores. The increasing curvature of these U-shaped patterns is a direct measure of a growing magnetic field tension force, implying a magnetic field strength scaling index of 0.50 +/- 0.10. These results indicate that the field, possibly enhanced by large-scale flow collisions, becomes strong enough to regulate star formation, linking parsec-scale colliding flows, a subparsec hub-filament system, and the triggering of massive star formation.

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A Dual-Band Centimetre Continuum Monitoring Survey of Young Stellar Objects in the Coronet Cluster

We present sensitive ($\sim$9 $μ$Jy), sub-arcsecond resolution radio continuum observations at 9.0 GHz (3.3 cm) and 14.0 GHz (2.1 cm) obtained with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) toward the nearby Coronet Cluster in Corona Australis (d $\approx$ 150 pc). We monitored the region from March 2012 to February 2015 using all available VLA configurations, allowing us to construct deep X- and Ku-band maps at multiple angular resolutions. We detected 20 radio sources, including 14 previously known Young Stellar Objects (YSOs), five sources possibly associated with shock emission, and one background galaxy. We resolved IRS 5, previously known to be a binary system, and identified IRS 7A and IRS 7B as multiple systems at centimetre wavelengths. The younger Class 0 and I YSOs exhibit spectral indices $α_{pk}$ ranging from -0.4 to 1.7, while the more evolved Class II YSOs show flatter values between 0 and 0.8, consistent with free-free emission, with minor contributions from non-thermal emission. The Class III source is only constrained by an upper limit. Radio variability, measured as a fraction of the mean intensity peak, is found to be ubiquitous and independent of evolutionary stage. Variability structure functions computed for nine sources indicate no preferred timescales for most of them. We also investigate spectral index variability for six sources and find significant variations in only one object. Finally, we analyse the extended radio emission toward IRS 7B, where some subcomponents exhibit negative spectral indices suggestive of non-thermal processes.

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The Keplerian disk, envelope, and streamers surrounding an early O-type protostar in the Sagittarius C cloud of the Central Molecular Zone

Disk-mediated accretion is central to theories of massive star formation, setting the initial conditions for their evolution. Yet observations of Keplerian disks around early O-type protostars remain scarce, as they are often blended into complex surrounding structures. We report ALMA Band 6 observations (300 au resolution) of an accretion disk surrounding a high-mass protostar in the Sagittarius C (Sgr C) cloud in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) around the Galactic Center. We identify spectral lines and analyze the spatial distribution of the emission of the complex organic molecules. We use a dynamical model with an inner Keplerian disk and an outer free-fall envelope to fit the three-dimensional position-position-velocity data of the stacked CH$_3$OCHO molecular lines and constrain the mass of the central protostar to be $\sim40^{+2}_{-3} M_{\odot}$. The fitting results additionally show that the disk has a centrifugal radius at about 1300 au. Considering the infall velocity, radius, and mass of the envelope, we estimate the accretion rate from the envelope onto the disk to be $\sim7\times 10^{-3}\ M_{\odot}\,\mathrm{yr^{-1}}$. We also identify spiral-like structures in the disk that can be described by free-falling streamers. Our results highlight the critical role of accretion disks and streamers in the mass accumulation of early O-type stars in the CMZ.

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Hourly radio variability of PDS70c from time-differential photometry

The radio emission mechanisms from accreting protoplanets, and their variability, link observations and physical properties. We revisit the variability of the ~343GHz (ALMA Band7) flux density from PDS70c (F_B7). The subtraction of the extended time-averaged signal may enable the measurement of the flux density from variable and embedded point sources. Visibility alignment and self-calibration yields close to thermal residuals in each execution block (EB) of ALMA observations, allowing the time-differential photometry of point-source in the visibility domain. The variability of PDS70c is checked against synthetic control point sources. In images of the 2017 ALMA dataset, with three ~1h EBs, PDS70c was detected only on 6 Dec. 2017, where F_B7 rose by 228%+-69% (3.3sigma). Time-differential photometry confirms a rise by 170%+-46% (3.7sigma). An application to ~2h EBs from the 2023 dataset resulted in constant flux densities, within a scatter of ~15%. However, F_B7(t) shows some scatter when splitting the deep 2023 EBs in 20min intervals, with a chi2 test significant at 2.6sigma, and an intrinsic dispersion of 49%21%. The radio variability of PDS70c, observed over hours but averaged out on longer timescales, is indeed expected if the signal is due to HI free-free from an accretion shock on a circum-planetary disk surface. A planet-to-environment mass ratio <1E-4 is required to avoid smoothing by radiative diffusion if the signal is due to thermal emission from the environment.

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Multi-wavelength ALMA Imaging of HD 34282: Dust-trapping Signatures of a Vortex Candidate

Azimuthal arcs in millimeter continuum emission from protoplanetary disks are often attributed to dust-trapping vortices, but definitive observational confirmation of vortices remains lacking. We present sub-0.1" resolution ALMA continuum observations of the HD 34282 disk at 0.9, 1.3, 2.1, and 3.1 mm. These observations resolve a bright azimuthal arc superposed on a compact double-gap, triple-ring morphology, most clearly at shorter wavelengths, and enable us to probe the physical origin of the arc. It exhibits a lower spectral index than the surrounding rings, consistent with enhanced grain growth and/or higher dust surface density of a dust-trapping vortex. Its azimuthal width decreases with increasing wavelength, consistent with tighter confinement of larger grains, or lower optical depths at longer wavelengths. These observations probe dust with Stokes numbers St < 0.03. Vortex models predict negligible peak shifts in this regime, consistent with the 1.3 to 3.1 mm data. At 0.9 mm, however, the arc peak is offset by 15 +/- 4 degree in the direction of disk rotation relative to longer wavelengths, and the near-side ring emission is locally dimmer compared to the far-side, likely reflecting optical-depth or temperature effects. These observations are consistent with azimuthal dust trapping, potentially associated with a vortex-induced pressure maximum.

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Reconciling 3D Models for the Central 10 parsecs of the Milky Way

The construction of an accurate 3D model of the Milky Way center is necessary to understand inflow processes that drive its overall evolution, and to compare our Galactic nucleus to other galaxies' nuclei. A main point of contention is the line-of-sight location of sources observed toward the central 10 pc of the Galaxy, including recent star formation (the Sgr A East supernova remnant and Sgr A HII regions) and copious gas (the 50 and 20 km/s molecular clouds, the Circumnuclear Disk, and the Sgr A West ionized "minispiral" that encircles the central supermassive black hole, Sgr A*). Some models place all of these structures within a radius of 5 pc from Sgr A*, while others place the 20 and 50 km/s clouds at a distance of at least 30 - 50 pc away from Sgr A* along the line of sight. We present new radio and millimeter observations of the molecular gas toward the central ~10 pc, from which we have constructed an alternative 3D model that is consistent with both prior radio observations and orbital gas kinematics. Our model places the 20 km/s cloud, 50 km/s cloud, and Sgr A East more than 10 pc in front of Sgr A*. While this model does not conclusively rule out a connection between the 50 and 20 km/s clouds and the circumnuclear disk, we argue that prior evidence for these connections is tenuous, especially given the complex spatial and kinematic overlap of structures along the line of sight.

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Linear filament and nested cluster evolution tomography (LANCET) I. Capture the evolution of dense gas in 14-parsec filament G316.8

A dynamic view of mass assembly is essential for understanding the formation of massive stars and clusters. Interpreting evolutionary diagnostics from Galactic-wide surveys, however, requires careful control of distance and environmental variations. The G316.8 filament provides an ideal laboratory: a 14-pc nearly linear structure composed of three contiguous subregions with comparable molecular gas reservoirs (~10,000 $M_\odot$ each) but spanning a clear evolutionary sequence from an infrared dark cloud (young) through a massive young stellar object (intermediate) to an HII region (evolved). As part of the Linear filament and nested cluster evolution tomography (LANCET) project, we mapped the full filament with the Atacama Compact Array at 1.3 mm, achieving 0.08 pc resolution over 17.1 pc$^2$. Combined with Herschel and APEX/ArTéMiS data, we derived high-resolution temperature and column-density maps. We quantify structural evolution using dense-fragment statistics, column-density PDFs, and $Δ$-variance analysis. From young to evolved regions, the maximum fragment mass increases from 8 to 490 $M_\odot$, while the dense-gas mass fraction ($>0.5$ g cm$^{-2}$) rises from 0.4% to 9.6%. The N-PDF develops a secondary power-law tail and the $Δ$-variance slope becomes progressively shallower, indicating ongoing assembly of dense sub-parsec structures. Our further ALMA 12m continuum and spectral line data will extend this dynamic scenarios down to 800 AU scale.

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ALMA 873 $μ$m Polarization Observations of the PDS~70 Disk

At a 112.4 pc distance, the PDS70 protoplanetary disk is a rare case that has been confirmed to host two accreting planets. This makes it the most important laboratory for studying dust growth in the context of planet formation. Here we present the first deep, full polarization observations at 873 $μ$m wavelength. We detected $\sim$1%-2.5% linear polarization over the bulk of the $\sim$55-100 AU (sub)millimeter ring. The polarization position angles align preferentially with the projected minor axis of the disk. The standard interpretation is that the observed polarization is caused by dust self-scattering, with a maximum dust grain size of $\sim$100 $μ$m. On $\gtrsim$10 AU scales, which can be resolved by the presented 873-3075 $μ$m observations, the ring is marginally optical thick at 873 $μ$m wavelength. Using Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations, we found that an azimuthally asymmetric, marginally optically thick ring with a maximum dust grain size of $\sim$87 $μ$m can reproduce the observed 873 $μ$m polarization position angles and percentages. This study indicates that the coagulation of ice-coated dust in the protoplanetary disk may be limited by fragmentation or bouncing.

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Magnetic threads and gravity: ALMA Observations of IRDC G14.225-0.506

During the star formation process, the interplay between gravity, turbulence, and B-fields is significant, with B-fields apparently serving a regulatory function. However, the extent to which B-fields are decisive relative to turbulence and gravity remains uncertain. This study aims to ascertain the role of B-fields in the fragmentation of molecular clouds. We examine the B-field observed with ALMA at core scales towards the infrared dark cloud G14.225-0.506, focusing on 3 regions with shared physical conditions, and juxtapose it with prior observations at the Hub-filament system scale. Our findings indicate a similar B-field strength and fragmentation level between the 2 hubs. However, distinct B-field morphologies are identified across the 3 regions where polarized emission is detected. In the region N, the large-scale B-field, which is perpendicular to the filamentary structure, persists at smaller scales in the southern half but becomes distorted near the more massive condensations in the northern half. Notably, these condensations exhibit signs of impending collapse, as evidenced by supercritical mass-to-flux values. In the region S, the B-field is considerably inhomogeneous among the detected condensations, and we do not observe a direct correlation between the field morphology and the condensation density. Lastly, in an isolated dust clump located within a southern filament of the northern hub, the B-field aligns parallel to the elongated emission, suggesting a transition in the field geometry. The B-field shows a clear evolution with spatial scales. We propose that the most massive condensations detected in the northern Hub are undergoing gravitational collapse, as revealed by the relative significance of the magnetic field and gravitational potential and mass-to-flux ratio. The distortion of the B-field could be a response to the flow of material due to the collapse.

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The Relationship between Accretion and Ionised Ejection among Young Stellar Objects in the Coronet Cluster

We present results from a coordinated, multi-epoch near-infrared and centimeter radio survey of young stellar objects (YSOs) in the Coronet, aimed at probing the connection between mass accretion and ionised mass loss. Using VLT-KMOS, we detect Br$γ$ emission in 5 of the 26 targets, which also exhibit 3.3-cm continuum emission in VLA images, consistent with partially ionised jets. For seven additional sources, stringent flux upper limits were obtained. The derived accretion and ionised mass-loss rates for class I and class II YSOs follow a sublinear correlation $\dot{M}_{\mathrm{ion}} \propto \dot{M}_{\mathrm{acc}}^{0.3}$, consistent with previous results for class II YSOs but extended here to earlier stages. Multi-epoch observations reveal modest variability in both tracers but no clear temporal correlation between accretion and ejection within timescales of a few months. The ratio $\dot{M}_{\mathrm{ion}}/\dot{M}_{\mathrm{acc}}$ shows an anti-correlation with $\dot{M}_{\mathrm{acc}}$, increasing with time from class I YSOs to class II YSOs, suggesting an increase in jet-launching efficiency or ionisation fraction with evolution. These findings support a direct connection between accretion and outflow across the $\sim$ Myr timescale of YSO evolution, while highlighting the complexity of their short-term interplay.

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Tails of Gravity: Persistence of Star Formation in the CMZ Environment

We characterize star-forming gas in six molecular clouds (Sgr B1-off, Sgr B2, Sgr C, the 20 km s$^{-1}$ and 50 km s$^{-1}$ molecular clouds, and the Brick) in the Galactic central molecular zone (CMZ), and compare their star-forming activities with those in molecular clouds outside the CMZ. Using multi-band continuum observations taken from ${\it Planck}$, ${\it Herschel}$, JCMT/SCUBA-2, and CSO/SHARC2, we derived 8.5" resolution column density maps for the CMZ clouds and evaluated the column density probability distribution functions (N-PDFs). With the archival Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) 1.3 mm dust continuum data, we further evaluated the mass of the most massive cores ($M_{\rm core}^{\rm ma x}$). We find that the N-PDFs of four of the selected CMZ clouds are well described by a piecewise log-normal + power-law function, while the N-PDFs of the remaining two can be approximated by log-normal functions. In the first four targets, the masses in the power-law component ($M_{\rm gas}^{\rm bound}$), $M_{\rm core}^{\rm max}$, and star formation rate (SFR) are correlated. These correlations are very similar to those derived from low-mass clouds in the Solar neighborhood and massive star-forming regions on the Galactic disk. These findings lead to our key hypotheses: (1) In the extreme environment of the CMZ, the power-law component in the N-PDF also represents self-gravitationally bound gas structures, and (2) evolution and star-forming activities of self-gravitationally bound gas structures may be self-regulated, insensitive to the exterior environment on $\gtrsim$5-10 pc scales.

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Deep Andromeda JCMT-SCUBA2 Observations. The Submillimeter Maps and Giant Molecular Clouds

We have carried out unprecedentedly deep, nearly confusion-limited JCMT-SCUBA2 mapping observations on the nearest spiral galaxy, M31 (Andromeda). The 850 $μ$m image with a $\sim$50 pc resolution yields a comprehensive catalog of 383 giant molecular clouds (GMCs) that are associated with the spiral arms. In addition, it unveiled a population of 189 compact inter-arm GMCs in M31, which are mostly unresolved or marginally resolved. The masses of all these GMCs are in the range of 2$\times$10$^4$ -- 6$\times$10$^6$ $M_{\odot}$; the sizes are in the range of 30--130 pc. They follow a mass-size correlation, $M$ $\propto$ $R_{c}$$^{2.5}$. The inter-arm GMCs are systematically less massive, more diffuse, colder, and have lower star-forming efficiency (SFE) than on-arm GMCs. Moreover, within individual spatially resolved on-arm and off-arm M31 GMCs, the SFE is considerably lower than the SFE in molecular clouds in main sequence and green valley galaxies. Follow-up investigations on M31 GMCs may provide clues for how star formation may be quenched in galactic environments. Finally, we reconstrained the dust opacity spectral index $β$ in the M31 galaxy by combining our new JCMT observations with archival Herschel and Planck data and found that the radial variation of $β$ may not be as large as was proposed by previous studies.

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Peculiar Disk Substructures Associated with the Young Eruptive Star EX Lupi

Young eruptive stars such as EXors undergo dramatic accretion outbursts characterized by sudden optical brightenings, yet the underlying physical mechanism remains uncertain. We present high-resolution Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 3 and 4 continuum observations of EX Lupi, the prototypical EXor-type variable, reconstructed using super-resolution imaging with sparse modeling. Our images reveal, for the first time, two distinct substructures: a compact, crescent-shaped inner arc within 10 au of the star, and a narrow outer ring at 30 au. The inner arc is strongly elongated and casts a shadow observed in the Very Large Telescope/SPHERE near-infrared scattered light. The outer ring exhibits a radial width comparable to the local pressure scale height, consistent with moderately efficient dust trapping. Geometric and thermal analysis of the disk surface, based on combined ALMA and SPHERE data, indicates that the disk is moderately flared with an average disk temperature consistent with that of classical T Tauri disks. The observed substructures suggest dynamical perturbations-plausibly induced by a massive companion companion-that may modulate accretion rates through gravitational interaction with the inner arc. These findings provide morphological evidence linking disk substructure to episodic accretion in the structurally mature disk.

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Multi-frequency observations of PDS 70c: Radio emission mechanisms in the circum-planetary environment

PDS 70c is a source of Ha emission and variable sub-mm signal. Understanding its emission mechanisms may enable observations of accretion rates and physical conditions in the circum-planetary environment. We report ALMA observations of PDS 70 at 145 GHz (Band 4), 343.5 GHz (Band 7) and 671 GHz (Band 9) and compare with data at 97.5 GHz (Band 3), taken within two months. The radio spectrum (SED) is analyzed with an analytical circumplanetary disk (CPD) model. In a novel approach including the free-free continuum from H I, metals (e.g. K I) and H-. New detections in Bands 3 (tentative at 2.6sigma), 4 (5sigma), and 7 (re-detected at 9sigma) are consistent with optically thick thermal emission from PDS 70c (spectral index 2+-0.2). However, a Band 9 non-detection lies 2.6sigma below an optically thick extrapolation. A viscous dusty disk is inconsistent with the data, even with the inclusion of ionised jets. Interestingly, the central temperatures in such CPD models are high enough to ionise H I, with huge emission measures and an optically thick spectrum that marginally accounts for the SED (within 3sigma of Band 9). By contrast, uniform-slab models suggest much lower emission measures to account for the Band 9 drop, with ionisation fractions ~1e-7, and an outer radius ~0.1 au. Such conditions are recovered if the CPD interacts with a planetary magnetic field, leading to a radially variable viscosity alpha(R)<~1 and midplane temperatures ~1e3 K that regulate metal ionisation. However, the H- opacity still results in an optically thick SED, overshooting Band 9. We find that the optically thin turnover at ~600 GHz is only recovered if a thin shocked layer is present at the CPD surface, as suggested by simulations. A photospheric shock or accretion funnels are ruled out as radio emission sources because their small solid angles would require T~1e6 K, which is unrealistic for planetary accretion.

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Dense Molecular Ring-like structure in gaseous CO depletion region G34.74-0.12

We report the discovery of a dense molecular ring-like structure in a dense (10$^5$ cm$^{-3}$), cold (pc-scale CO depletion at a factor of 5), and young (10$^4$ year) star-forming region G34.74-0.12, revealed by C$^{18}$O (2-1), HNC (1-0), and N$_2$H$^+$ (1-0) observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The ring-like structure is redshifted with respect to the clump, spanning from $V_{\rm sys,lsr} + 0.9$ to $V_{\rm sys,lsr} + 2.9$ km s$^{-1}$, with a total mass of 109 $M_{\odot}$. It is spatially coincident with 1.3 mm and 3.0 mm dust continuum emission from cores, and several protostellar outflows. However, no free-free emission or H\textsc{ii} region is detected in association with this structure. With a slow expansion speed indicated by the position-velocity diagram, this ring structure differs from rings previously identified in more evolved star-forming regions. Possible explanations for the ring-like structure include a relic wind-blown bubble produced by a deeply embedded young stellar object, a hollow cavity formed by cloud-cloud interactions, a gas ring resulting from a temperature gradient, or a line-of-sight superposition of multiple outflows or dense clouds. This discovery offers a rare observational glimpse into the earliest dynamical processes involved in massive star formation.

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Detailed Microwave Continuum Spectra from Bright Protoplanetary Disks in Taurus

We present new observations that densely sample the microwave (4-360 GHz) continuum spectra from eight young systems in the Taurus region. Multi-component, empirical model prescriptions were used to disentangle the contributions from their dust disks and other emission mechanisms. We found partially optically thick, free-free emission in all these systems, with positive spectral indices (median $α_{\rm c} \approx 1$ at 10 GHz) and contributing 5-50% of the 43 GHz fluxes. There is no evidence for synchrotron or spinning dust grain emission contributions for these targets. The inferred dust disk spectra all show substantial curvature: their spectral indices decrease with frequency, from $α_{\rm d} \approx 2.8$-4.0 around 43 GHz to 1.7-2.1 around 340 GHz. This curvature suggests that a substantial fraction of the (sub)millimeter ($\gtrsim$ 200 GHz) dust emission may be optically thick, and therefore the traditional metrics for estimating dust masses are flawed. Assuming the emission at lower frequencies (43 GHz) is optically thin, the local spectral indices and fluxes were used to constrain the disk-averaged dust properties and estimate corresponding dust masses. These masses are roughly an order of magnitude higher ($\approx 1000 \, M_\oplus$) than those found from the traditional approach based on (sub)millimeter fluxes. These findings emphasize the value of broad spectral coverage - particularly extending to lower frequencies ($\sim$cm-band) - for accurately interpreting dust disk emission; such observations may help reshape our perspective on the available mass budgets for planet formation.

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Impact of gravity on changing magnetic field orientations in a sample of massive protostellar clusters observed with ALMA

The magnetic field is integral to our understanding of the formation and dynamical evolution of molecular clouds and star formation within. We present a polarimetric survey of 17 massive protostellar cluster forming clumps, covered in 34 pointings in the 230-GHz window using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The two array configurations, C43-1 and C43-4, probe linearly polarized dust emission, hence the plane-of-the-sky orientation of magnetic fields, at resolutions of 1\arcsec\ and 0\arcsec.4 that correspond to approximately 0.01pc core and $10^3$ au envelope scales, respectively. The relative orientations (ROs) of the magnetic field probed at two spatial scales are analyzed for the entire protostellar cluster sample and for a subset of objects in NGC 6334. We found a bimodal distribution of ROs with peaks at 0° (parallel) and 90°(orthogonal) for the entire sample combined as well as for NGC 6334. We investigate the physical origin of this bimodal distribution through a projected Rayleigh statistic (PRS) analysis in relation to column densities and local gravity in NGC 6334. We found an excess of parallel magnetic fields at column densities $> 10^{23}$ \cmm. The underlying cause of the RO distribution of the magnetic field is gravitational collapse at higher gas densities, which drags and reorients the magnetic field as shown in the alignment between the magnetic field and the direction of gravitational forces. The distribution of ROs observed here is consistent with the evolution of relative orientations of an initially sub-Alvénic cloud that becomes magnetically super-critical and super-Alvénic as the cloud collapses to form stars.

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The ALMA Survey of 70 $μ$m Dark High-mass Clumps in Early Stages (ASHES). XII. Unanchored Forked Stream in the Propagating Path of a Protostellar Outflow

Outflows are key indicators of ongoing star formation. We report the discovery of an unanchored forked stream within the propagating path of an extremely young protostellar outflow in the 70 $μ$m-dark clump G34.74-0.12, based on ALMA 1.3 mm observations with an angular resolution of 1''.6 (~ 5000 au). This outflow originate from a 9.7 $M_{\odot}$ core, exhibits a fork-shaped stream structure in its red-shifted lobe, which is traced by CO (2-1), SiO (5-4), and H$_2$CO (3$_{0,3}$-2$_{0,2}$). It has a momentum of 13 $M_{\odot}$ km s$^{-1}$, an energy of 107 $M_{\odot}$ km$^{2}$ s$^{-2}$, and a dynamical timescale of ~10$^{4}$ yr. Significantly, the enhanced relative abundances of SiO, H$_2$CO, and CH$_3$OH with respect to CO, along with the increased temperature at the forked point, indicate a collisional origin. The forked point does not coincide with any dust continuum core > 0.1 $M_{\odot}$. Moreover, CO (2-1) emission also traces three other outflows in this region, characterized by their masses (0.40, 0.02 and 0.15 $M_{\odot}$) and momenta (5.2, 0.2, 1.8 $M_{\odot}$ km s$^{-1}$), as part of the ALMA Survey of 70 $μ$m dark High-mass clumps in Early Stages (ASHES) project. All the newly discovered morphological and kinematic features associated with these extremely young protostellar outflows (with timescales of 10$^3$ - 10$^4$ years) suggest that the initial stages of star formation are more complicated than previously understood.

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