arXiv subjects

J. M. Girart

Publications and source records attributed to J. M. Girart.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Magnetic fields in Massive Star-Forming Regions (MagMaR). VIII. Magnetic field overrun by gravity in GGD 27's accretion streamers

Context. Accretion streamers connected to protostellar disks and/or envelopes are thought to transport material across several thousand of au. Whether the motions of the gas comprising these streamers are dominated by gravity, large scale external turbulence or the action of magnetic fields is still under scrutiny. Aims. The aim of this work is to understand the role of the magnetic fields in the star-formation processes, in particular the role that magnetic forces have in potentially leading flows of gas and the accretion onto the envelopes and disks orbiting protostars. Methods. First, we try to identify the large-scale accretion streamers toward the high-mass Young Stellar Object GGD 27-MM1 and fit their trajectories using the so-called Mendoza's model, a modification of the classical model of pure gravitational infalling motion of fluid particles in a potential well. Second, we estimate the strength of the magnetic field associated with the streamers. Then, we determine if the streamers are dominated by magnetic or centrifugal forces. Results. Inspecting the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) H$_2$CO cube we were able to identify four accretion streamers spreading up to $\sim$7,000 au and fit their trajectories in the position-position-velocity space. The polarized continuum emission reveals a good alignment of the magnetic field and the trajectory of the streamers. Using the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method, we derive estimates for the magnetic field strength, find that the streamers are sub-alfvénic, and discuss (after estimating energy terms for turbulence, ordered motions, magnetic forces and gravity) a possible qualitative scenario in which, the gravitational well of the GGD 27-MM1 protostar dominates streamer gas motions over turbulence and magnetic forces at distances of $\sim 3,000$ au.

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arXiv2026

Magnetic Fields in Massive Star-forming Regions (MagMaR). VII. On the dynamical importance of B-fields in massive protocluster W33 A

Magnetic fields (B-fields) are likely important in massive protocluster formation, but their role remains poorly constrained. We present 1.2 mm ALMA full-polarization observations of W33 A, a massive star-forming region at 2.4 kpc, with an angular resolution of 0.3 arcsec (730 au). The region is resolved into 20 dense cores and 9 filaments. The plane-of-sky B-field, inferred from linearly polarized dust emission, shows diverse structures: two nearly perpendicular large-scale components oriented northwest-southeast (NW-SE) and northeast-southwest (NE-SW), and two localized features toward the millimeter peaks MM1 and MM2. The NW-SE component could be shaped by a molecular outflow. The NE-SW component is coherent along the main filaments F1, F-Main, and Tail, all of which show trans-Alfvenic turbulence. In F-Main, the line mass exceeds the turbulent critical value, implying that magnetic support is required to prevent radial collapse and suppress fragmentation. In F1 and Tail, turbulence alone can support the gas against gravity, although B-fields may provide additional support. Toward MM1, the B-field follows a spiral-like infalling streamer traced by CH3CN. The trans-Alfvenic state of the accreting gas suggests efficient magnetic damping of turbulence and a magnetically regulated, laminar accretion flow feeding the core. Toward MM2, the B-field shows an hourglass morphology fitted by parabolic curves. Two independent methods give a consistent field strength of about 8.1(1.9) mG, and virial analysis indicates that the B-field is dynamically important in delaying collapse of MM2. Within a single protocluster, B-fields can stabilize filaments, regulate accretion, and delay core collapse, highlighting their diverse dynamic role in high-mass star formation.

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arXiv2026

Orbital motion and dynamical mass of the complex periodic variable binary system 2MASS J05082729-2101444

We used very long baseline interferometry to constrain the orbit of the binary system 2MASS J05082729-2101444. We observed the system with the VLBA in three epochs at a frequency of 4.85 GHz, which provides an angular resolution of about 3 mas. We combined the three radio astrometric observations, 119 RVs (60 VIS and 59 NIR) obtained with the CARMENES high-resolution spectrograph over a period of 8.1 years, and a relative astrometric measurement of an archival H-band Keck NIRC adaptive optics image to fit the orbital motion of the binary system. The VLBA observations resolved the binary system and show emission from both stellar components, with similar flux-density levels (0.34-0.67 mJy), and showing slight temporal flux variations. The emission appears quiescent, with no significant circular polarization, and with no flare events. We obtained an orbital motion fit of the binary system, which shows an eccentric orbit (e = 0.71), an orbital period of 2.19 yr, and a semimajor axis of 26.964 mas (1.3 au). The VLBA observations made it possible to resolve the binary system and identify both stars as radio-loud sources. The combined fit shows that 2M0508-21 is an M-dwarf binary with a total dynamical mass of $0.459\pm0.007$ M$_{\odot}$, assuming Gaia's parallax. This mass is slightly higher than those estimated from the luminosity and theoretical evolutionary models. The upper limit of the circular polarization at 4.85 GHz ($\lesssim$10\%), the persistence of the quiescent emission, and the relatively low brightness temperatures are consistent with a gyro-synchrotron or synchrotron origin of the radio emission. Further VLBA observations are needed to obtain the individual masses of the stars, as well as to verify Gaia's parallax of the system. A complete characterization of the system will help improve evolutionary models for young objects at the substellar boundary.

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arXiv2026

JOYS$+$: A JWST/MIRI survey of the evolution of H$_2$ winds and jets from low-mass protostars

Protostellar outflows display wide-angle winds and collimated jets, the magnetocentrifugal launching of which enables accretion onto the protostar. The majority of the outflow mass is likely ejected or entrained molecular H$_2$, which can now be studied in unprecedented detail with JWST. Using JWST MIRI/MRS observations towards 13 single and 20 multiple Class 0 and I protostars, we investigate the nature and evolution of the H$_2$ wind and jet morphology, mass outflow rate, and velocity and temperature structure. We construct line flux and velocity maps of the H$_2$ S(1) and S(7) lines as well as the sub-mm CO traced by ALMA. Low-$J$ ($J\le4$) H$_2$ transitions trace extended wide-angle, low-velocity (0-20 km s$^{-1}$) winds within the contours of the low-velocity ($< 30$ km s$^{-1}$) sub-mm CO emission, while high-$J$ ($J >5$) transitions are associated with shocks and knots. In Class 0 sources with a known high-velocity ($> 30$ km s$^{-1}$) molecular CO or SiO jet, higher H$_2$ velocities are found along the jet axis. The opening angle of the wind traced by the H$_2$ S(1) line broadens from $\sim20^\circ$ to $\sim90^\circ$ through the Class 0 to Class I stage. Near the base of each blue-shifted outflow lobe, we extract representative spectra, where rotation diagram fitting of the H$_2$ lines is combined with the outflow width and H$_2$ line velocity to measure the mass-loss rates. The rotation diagrams show a warm $\sim 600$ K, component with two orders of magnitude more mass than the hot, 1500-3000 K component. The H$_2$ outflow mass-loss rates decline by two orders of magnitude from the Class 0 to Class II stage and are correlated with bolometric luminosity. The declining warm H$_2$ mass loss rates and increasing opening angles from the Class 0 to I stages, and the absence of H$_2$ jets in the Class I sources, are consistent with the predictions of MHD disk wind models.

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arXiv2025

First results from ALPPS: a sub-Alfvénic streamer in SVS13A

We present the first results from the ALMA Perseus Polarization Survey (ALPPS), focusing on the magnetic field in the SVS13A circumbinary disk. The dataset includes full-Stokes dust continuum observations at $\sim0\farcs3$ and 870 $μ$m, as well as molecular line emission from C$^{17}$O$(J=3 \rightarrow 2)$ at $\sim0\farcs3$, C$^{18}$O$(J=2 \rightarrow 1)$ at $\sim0\farcs2$, and DCN$(J=3 \rightarrow 2)$ at $\sim0\farcs1$ angular resolution. Our observations resolve both a previously identified dust spiral and an infalling streamer, capturing their spatial and kinematic structures. The streamer is traced from scales $>300$ au down to the circumbinary disk. Using alignment measure (AM) maps and histograms that compare the orientations of the plane-of-sky magnetic field with local intensity and velocity gradients, we find that the AM distribution peaks at a value of 1. This AM peak strongly suggests alignment between the field and the dust total intensity emission, as well as between the field and the gas velocity, which in turn suggests grain alignment by magnetic fields. From our data, we derive a magnetic field strength, B$_{\mathrm{pos}} \sim 1.1 \pm 0.6$\, mG, and a kinetic to magnetic energy ratio of $0.5 \pm 0.4$, suggesting magnetic dominance. We also produced a map of the Alfvénic Mach number, finding $\mathcal{M}_{\rm A} < 1$ along the streamer, consistent with sub-Alfvénic infalling motions. Therefore, the field is likely facilitating the inflow of material from the envelope onto the disk by constraining movement across the field lines. This represents the first detection of a magnetically sub-Alfvénic infalling streamer in a protostellar system.

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arXiv2025

A compact Keplerian-like disc and H30$α$ emission towards the radio jet in the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3

Studying young, high-mass stellar objects is challenging for testing models of massive star formation due to their great distances, often kiloparsecs away. This requires extremely high-angular resolution to resolve features like accretion discs around massive protostars. Consequently, while powerful, collimated outflows are evident in massive protostars, the compact accretion discs anticipated at their centres are still proving difficult to pinpoint. This study presents ALMA continuum and molecular line observations at 1.3 mm of the massive protostar W75N(B)-VLA3. The observations achieve an angular resolution of $\sim$0.12$^{\prime\prime}$ ($\sim$156 au). Dense gas tracers reveal a circumstellar disc of $\sim$450 au in radius surrounding VLA3, with an orientation perpendicular to its associated thermal radio jet. From the millimetre continuum, a total mass of $\approx$0.43-1.74 $M_\odot$ is estimated for the disc. The disc's velocity profile is consistent with Keplerian rotation around a protostar of $\approx$16 $M_\odot$. This adds VLA3 to the small number of massive disc-protostar-jet systems documented in the literature with a centrifugally supported disc with a radius less than 500 au. Additionally, we detected H30$α$ recombination line emission towards the radio jet powered by VLA3. Despite limitations in the spatial and spectral resolution, our data reveal a very broad line, indicative of high-velocity motions, as well as a tentative velocity gradient in the jet's direction, thus favouring the H30$α$ emission to originate from the radio jet. Should this interpretation be confirmed with new observations, W75N(B)-VLA3 could represent the first protostellar radio jet for which a thermal radio recombination line has been detected.

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arXiv2025

A multi-scale view of the magnetic field morphology in the hot molecular core G31.41+0.31

Multiscale studies of the morphology and strength of the magnetic field are crucial to properly unveil its role and relative importance in high-mass star and cluster formation. G31.41+0.31 (G31) is a hub-filament system that hosts a high-mass protocluster embedded in a hot molecular core (HMC). G31 is one of the few sources showing a clear hourglass morphology of the magnetic field on scales between 1000 au and a few 100 au in previous interferometric observations. This strongly suggests a field-regulated collapse. To complete the study of the magnetic field properties in this high-mass star-forming region, we carried out observations with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope $850 μ$m of the polarized dust emission. These observations had a spatial resolution of $\sim$0.2 pc at 3.75 kpc. The aim was to study the magnetic field in the whole cloud and to compare the magnetic field orientation toward the HMC from $\sim$50,000 au to $\sim$260 au scales. The large-scale ($\sim$5 pc) orientation of the magnetic field toward the position of the HMC is consistent with that observed at the core ($\sim$4,000 au) and circumstellar ($\sim$260 au) scales. The self-similarity of the magnetic field orientation at these different scales might arise from the brightest sources in the protocluster, whose collapse is dragging the magnetic field. These sources dominate the gravitational potential and the collapse in the HMC. The cloud-scale magnetic field strength of the G31 hub-filament system, which we estimated using the Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method, is in the range 0.04--0.09 mG. The magnetic field orientation in the star-forming region shows a bimodal distribution, and it changes from an NW--SE direction in the north to an E--W direction in the south [abridged abstract].

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arXiv2025

First detection of variable radio emission originating from the infant planetary system V1298 Tau

V1298 Tau is a very young and magnetically active star which hosts a benchmark multi-planetary system to study planet formation and evolutionary history at the earliest stages. We selected V1298 Tau for a first targeted follow-up at radio frequencies with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Telescope (JVLA), the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), and the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT), to search for emission in the overall frequency range 0.55-7.2 GHz. Detecting radio emission from such a very active star is key to characterise its magnetosphere, allowing in principle to probe the strength of the coronal magnetic field and plasma density. Observations were carried out between Oct 2023 and Sept 2024: three epochs with uGMRT band-4 (0.55-0.75 GHz), 12 epochs with the JVLA using L (1-2 GHz) and C (4.5-6.5 GHz) bands, and three epochs with SRT using C-high band (6-7.2 GHz). We report the first detection of radio emission from V1298 Tau at different epochs using the JVLA. The emission has maximum peak flux densities of 91$\pm$10 and 177$\pm$6 $μ$Jy/beam in the L- and C-band, respectively. From a comparison with contemporary optical photometry, we found that the detected emission with the highest fluxes are located around a phase of minimum of the photospheric light curve. Although the uGMRT and SRT observations could not detect the source, we measured 3$σ$ flux density upper limits in the range ~41-56 $μ$Jy/beam using uGMRT, while with SRT we reached upper limits down to 13 mJy. The lack of a significant fraction of circular polarisation indicates that the observed flux is not due to electron cyclotron maser emission from star-planet interaction, and it is likely produced by gyrosynchroton/cyclotron emission from the corona triggered by stellar magnetic activity, although we cannot exclude thermal emission due to a lack of constraints on the brightness temperature.

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arXiv2025

Erosion of a dense molecular core by a strong outflow from a massive protostar

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Band 3 observations of N$_2$H$^+$ (1-0) and CH$_3$CN (5-4), as well as Band 7 observations of the H$_2$CO molecular line emissions from the protostellar system GGD 27-MM2(E). Through position-velocity diagrams along and across the outflow axis, we study the kinematics and structure of the outflow. We also fit extracted spectra of the CH$_3$CN emission to obtain the physical conditions of the gas. We use the results to discuss the impact of the outflow on its surroundings. We find that N$_2$H$^+$ emission traces a dense molecular cloud surrounding GGD 27-MM2(E). We estimate that the mass of this cloud is $\sim$13.3-26.5 M$_\odot$. The molecular cloud contains an internal cavity aligned with the H$_2$CO-traced molecular outflow. The outflow, also traced by $\mathrm{CH_3 CN}$, shows evidence of a collision with a molecular core (MC), as indicated by the distinctive increases in the distinct physical properties of the gas such as excitation temperature, column density, line width, and velocity. This collision results in an X-shape structure in the northern part of the outflow around the position of the MC, which produces spray-shocked material downstream in the north of MC as observed in position-velocity diagrams both along and across of the outflow axis. The outflow has a mass of 1.7-2.1 M$_\odot$, a momentum of 7.8-10.1 M$_\odot$ km s$^{-1}$, a kinetic energy of 5.0-6.6$\times 10^{44}$ erg, and a mass loss rate of 4.9--6.0$\times10^{-4}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. The molecular outflow from GGD 27-MM2(E) significantly perturbs and erodes its parent cloud, compressing the gas of sources such as MC and ALMA 12. The feedback from this powerful protostellar outflow contributes to maintain the turbulence in the surrounding area.

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arXiv2024

The protostars in Orion: Characterizing the properties of their magnetized envelopes

We present a study connecting the physical properties of protostellar envelopes to the morphology of the envelope-scale magnetic field. We used the ALMA polarization observations of 61 young prtostars at 0.87 mm on $\sim400-3000$ au scales from the {\em B}-field Orion Protostellar Survey to infer the envelope-scale magnetic field, and used the dust emission to measure the envelope properties on comparable scales. We find that protostars showing standard-hourglass-field morphology tend to have larger masses and lower velocity dispersions in their envelopes, whereas systems with spiral-field morphologies have higher velocity dispersion. Combining with the disk properties taken from the Orion VLA/ALMA Nascent Disk and Multiplicity survey, we connect envelope properties to fragmentation. Our results show that the fragmentation level is positively correlated with the angle dispersion of the magnetic field, suggesting that the envelope fragmentation tends to be suppressed by the magnetic field. We also find that protostars exhibiting standard hourglass magnetic field structure tend to have a smaller disk and smaller angle dispersion of the magnetic field than other field configurations, specially the rotated hourglass, but also the spiral and others, suggesting a more effective magnetic braking in the standard hourglass morphology of magnetic fields. Nevertheless, significant misalignment between the magnetic field and outflow axes tends to reduce magnetic braking, leading to the formation of larger disks.

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arXiv2024

Self-similarity of the magnetic field at different scales: the case of G31.41+0.31

Context. Dust polarization observations of the massive protocluster G31.41+0.31 carried out at ~1'' (~3750 au) resolution with the SMA at 870 microm have revealed one of the clearest examples to date of an hourglass-shaped magnetic field morphology in the high-massregime. Additionally, ~0.24'' (~900 au) resolution observations with ALMA at 1.3 mm have confirmed these results. The next step is to investigate whether the magnetic field maintains its hourglass-shaped morphology down to circumstellar scales. Aims. To study the magnetic field morphology toward the four (proto)stars A, B, C, and D contained in G31.41+0.31 and examine whether the self-similarity observed at core scales (1'' and 0.24'' resolution) still holds at circumstellar scales, we carried out ALMA observations of the polarized dust continuum emission at 1.3 mm and 3.1 mm at an angular resolution of ~0.068'' (~250 au), sufficient to resolve the envelope emission of the embedded protostars. Methods. We used ALMA to perform full polarization observations at 233 GHz (Band 6) and 97.5 GHz (Band 3) with a synthesized beam of 0.072'' x 0.064''. We carried out polarization observations at two different wavelengths to confirm that the polarization traces magnetically aligned dust grains and is not due to dust self-scattering. Results. The polarized emission and the direction of the magnetic field obtained at the two wavelengths are basically the same, except for an area between the embedded sources C and B. In such an area, the emission at 1.3 mm could be optically thick and affected by dichroic extinction. ...

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arXiv2023

Disk and Envelope Streamers of the GGD27-MM1 Massive Protostar

We present new Atacama Large (sub)Millimeter Array 0.98 mm observations of the continuum emission and several molecular lines toward the high-mass protostellar system GGD27-MM1, driving the HH 80-81 radio-jet. The detailed analysis of the continuum and the CH$_3$CN molecular emission allows us to separate the contributions from the dust content of the disk (extending up to 190 au), the molecular content of the disk (extending from 140 to 360 au), and the content of the envelope, revealing the presence of several possible accretion streamers (also seen in other molecular tracers, such as CH$_3$OH). We analyze the physical properties of the system, producing temperature and column density maps, and radial profiles for the disk and the envelope. We qualitatively reproduce the trajectories and line-of-sight velocities of the possible streamers using a theoretical model approach. An ad-hoc model of a flared disk comprising a hot dust disk embedded in cold gas fits the H$_2$S emission, which revealed the molecular disk as crescent-shape with a prominent central absorption. Another fit to the central absorption spectrum suggests that the absorption is probably caused by different external cold layers from the envelope or the accretion streamers. Finally, the analysis of the rotation pattern of the different molecular transitions in the molecular disk, suggests that there is an inner zone devoid of molecular content.

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arXiv2021

Magnetic Fields in Massive Star-Forming Regions (MagMaR) I. Linear Polarized Imaging of the UCHII Region G5.89-0.39

We report 1.2 mm polarized continuum emission observations carried out with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) toward the high-mass star formation region G5.89-0.39. The observations show a prominent 0.2 pc north-south filamentary structure. The UCHII in G5.89-0.39 breaks the filament in two pieces. Its millimeter emission shows a dusty belt with a mass of 55-115 M$_{\odot}$ and 4,500 au in radius, surrounding an inner part comprising mostly ionized gas with a dust emission only accounting about 30% of the total millimeter emission. We also found a lattice of convex arches which may be produced by dragged dust and gas from the explosive dispersal event involving the O5 Feldt's star. The north-south filament has a mass between 300-600 M$_{\odot}$ and harbours a cluster of about 20 millimeter envelopes with a median size and mass of 1700 au and 1.5 M$_{\odot}$, respectively, some of which are already forming protostars. We interpret the polarized emission in the filament as mainly coming from magnetically aligned dust grains. The polarization fraction is ~4.4% in the filaments and 2.1% at the shell. The magnetic fields are along the North Filament and perpendicular to the South Filament. In the Central Shell, the magnetic fields are roughly radial in a ring surrounding the dusty belt between 4,500 and 7,500 au, similar to the pattern recently found in the surroundings of Orion BN/KL. This may be an independent observational signpost of explosive dispersal outflows and should be further investigated in other regions.

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arXiv2020

The role of the magnetic field in the fragmentation process: the case of G14.225-0.506

B-fields are predicted to play a role in the formation of filamentary structures and their fragmentation process. We aim at investigating the role of the B-field in the process of core fragmentation toward the hub-filament systems in the IRDC G14.2, which present different fragmentation level. We performed observations of the thermal dust polarization at 350 μm using the CSO toward the hubs. We applied the polarization--intensity-gradient method to estimate the significance of the B-field over the G-force. The B-field in Hub-N shows a uniform structure along the E-W orientation, perpendicular to the major axis of the hub-filament system. The I-gradient in Hub-N displays a local minimum coinciding with the dust core MM1a detected with interferometric observations. The B-field orientation is perturbed when approaching the dust core. Hub-S shows 2 local minima, reflecting the bimodal distribution of the B-field. In Hub-N, both E and W of the hub-filament system, the I-gradient and the B-field are parallel whereas they tend to be perpendicular when penetrating the filaments and hub. The analysis of the δ- and Σ B-maps indicate that, the B-field cannot prevent the collapse, suggesting that the B-field is initially dragged by the infalling motion and aligned with it, or is channeling material toward the central ridge from both sides. Values of Σ B > 1 are found toward a N-S ridge encompassing the dust emission peak, indicating that in this region B-field dominates over G-force, or that with the current angular resolution we cannot resolve an hypothetical more complex structure. We estimated the B-field strength, the MtF ratio and the A-M number, and found differences between the 2 hubs. The different levels of fragmentation observed in these 2 hubs could arise from the differences in the B-field properties rather than from different intensity of the G-field.

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arXiv2020

A statistical analysis of dust polarization properties in ALMA observations of Class 0 protostellar cores

Recent observational progress has challenged the dust grain-alignment theories used to explain the polarized dust emission routinely observed in star-forming cores. In an effort to improve our understanding of the dust grain alignment mechanism(s), we have gathered a dozen ALMA maps of (sub)millimeter-wavelength polarized dust emission from Class 0 protostars, and carried out a comprehensive statistical analysis of dust polarization quantities. We analyze the statistical properties of the polarization fraction P_frac and dispersion of polarization position angles S. More specifically, we investigate the relationship between S and P_frac as well as the evolution of the product S*P_frac as a function of the column density of the gas in the protostellar envelopes. We find a significant correlation in the polarized dust emission from protostellar envelopes seen with ALMA; the power-law index differs significantly from the one observed by Planck in star-forming clouds. The product S*P_frac, which is sensitive to the dust grain alignment efficiency, is approximately constant across three orders of magnitude in envelope column density. This suggests that the grain alignment mechanism producing the bulk of the polarized dust emission in star-forming cores may not depend systematically on the local conditions such as local gas density. Ultimately, our results suggest dust alignment mechanism(s) are efficient at producing dust polarized emission in the various local conditions typical of Class 0 protostars. The grain alignment efficiency found in these objects seems to be higher than the efficiency produced by the standard RAT alignment of paramagnetic grains. Further study will be needed to understand how more efficient grain alignment via, e.g., different irradiation conditions, dust grain characteristics, or additional grain alignment mechanisms can reproduce the observations.

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arXiv2020

Magnetism Science with the Square Kilometre Array

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will answer fundamental questions about the origin, evolution, properties, and influence of magnetic fields throughout the Universe. Magnetic fields can illuminate and influence phenomena as diverse as star formation, galactic dynamics, fast radio bursts, active galactic nuclei, large-scale structure, and Dark Matter annihilation. Preparations for the SKA are swiftly continuing worldwide, and the community is making tremendous observational progress in the field of cosmic magnetism using data from a powerful international suite of SKA pathfinder and precursor telescopes. In this contribution, we revisit community plans for magnetism research using the SKA, in the light of these recent rapid developments. We focus in particular on the impact that new radio telescope instrumentation is generating, thus advancing our understanding of key SKA magnetism science areas, as well as the new techniques that are required for processing and interpreting the data. We discuss these recent developments in the context of the ultimate scientific goals for the SKA era.

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arXiv2020

Polarized emission by aligned grains in the Mie regime : application to protoplanetary disks observed by ALMA

The azimuthal polarization patterns observed in some protoplanetary disks by ALMA at millimeter wavelength have raised doubts about their being produced by dust grains aligned with the magnetic field lines. These conclusions were based on the calculations of dust polarized emission in the Rayleigh regime, i.e. for grain sizes much smaller than the wavelength. However, the grain size in such disks is estimated to be typically in the range 0.1 - 1 mm from independent observations. We study the dust polarization properties of aligned grains in emission in the Mie regime, i.e. when the mean grain size approches the wavelength. Using the T-MATRIX and DustEM codes, we compute the spectral dependence of the polarization fraction in emission for grains in perfect spinning alignment, for various grain size distributions of weakly-elongated oblate and prolate grains of astrosilicate composition, with a mean size ranging from 10 μm to 1 mm. In the submillimeter and millimeter wavelength range, the polarization by B-field aligned grains becomes negative for grains larger than ~ 250 μm, meaning that the polarization vector becomes parallel to the B-field. The transition from the positive to the negative polarization occurs at a wavelength λ ~ 1 mm. The regime of negative polarization does not exist for grains smaller than ~ 100 μm. When using realistic grain size distributions for disks with grains up to the submillimeter sizes, the polarization direction of thermal emission by aligned grains is shown to be parallel to the direction of the magnetic field over a significant fraction of the wavelengths typically used to observe young protoplanetary disks. This property may explain the peculiar azimuthal orientation of the polarization vectors in some of the disks observed with ALMA and attest of the conserved ability of dust polarized emission to trace the magnetic field in disks.

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arXiv2019

Modeling the accretion disk around the high-mass protostar GGD 27-MM1

Recent high-angular resolution (40 mas) ALMA observations at 1.14 mm resolve a compact (R~200 au) flattened dust structure perpendicular to the HH 80-81 jet emanating from the GGD 27-MM1 high-mass protostar, making it a robust candidate for a true accretion disk. The jet/disk system (HH 80-81 / GGD 27-MM1) resemble those found in association with low- and intermediate-mass protostars. We present radiative transfer models that fit the 1.14 mm ALMA dust image of this disk which allow us to obtain its physical parameters and predict its density and temperature structure. Our results indicate that this accretion disk is compact (Rdisk~170 au) and massive (5Msun), about 20% of the stellar mass of 20 Msun. We estimate the total dynamical mass of the star-disk system from the molecular line emission finding a range between 21 and 30 Msun, which is consistent with our model. We fit the density and temperature structures found by our model with power law functions. These results suggest that accretion disks around massive stars are more massive and hotter than their low-mass siblings, but they still are quite stable. We also compare the temperature distribution in the GGD 27-MM1 disk with that found in low- and intermediate-mass stars and discuss possible implications on the water snow line. We have also carried about a study of the distance based on Gaia DR2 data and the population of young stellar objects (YSOs) in this region, and from the extinction maps. We conclude that the source distance is in within 1.2 and 1.4 kpc, closer than what was derived in previous studies (1.7 kpc).

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