[Previous] | [Session 53] | [Next]

[53.03] SCUBA Polarization Measurements of the Magnetic Field Strengths in the L183, L1544, and L43 Prestellar Cores

R. M. Crutcher (U. Illinois), D. J. Nutter, D. Ward-Thompson (Cardiff U.)

We have mapped linearly polarized dust emission from L183 with the JCMT SCUBA polarimeter and have analyzed these and our previously published data for the prestellar cores L183, L1544, and L43 in order to estimate magnetic field strengths. The polarization analysis used the Chandrasekhar-Fermi technique, which relates the dispersion in polarization position angles to the field strength in the plane of the sky. The dust cores sampled by the observations have typical diameters of about 0.05 pc, densities n(H₂) ~3 \times 10⁵, and masses of 1-2 M_\odot. The inferred magnetic field strengths were about 0.1 mG, which imply mass-to-magnetic flux ratios approximately twice critical. We will discuss the implications of these results for magnetic support of cores and for star formation.

RMC acknowledges partial supported of this research under NSF grant AST 02-05810. DJN wishes to thanks PPARC for studentship support.

[Previous] | [Session 53] | [Next]

Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #3
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.