SIMPLIFI: A Legacy Investigation of Interstellar Magnetic Polarization in Star Forming Filaments
Abstract
Stars form during gravitational collapse in molecular clouds. This process governs how galaxies evolve over cosmic time by creating their stellar components. It also affects properties of the planets formed along with the young stars. Collapse in molecular clouds during star formation is controlled by self-gravity, random "turbulent" gas motions inside clouds, and interstellar magnetic fields. Past studies have revealed a detailed picture of the role of self- gravity and gas kinematics during star formation — but observational assessments of magnetic fields remain challenging. A coordinated and ambitious project is needed to systematically fill the gaps in our current understanding of magnetic fields in star formation.
SIMPLIFI ("Study of Interstellar Magnetic Polarization: a Legacy Investigation of FIlaments") is primarily a SOFIA legacy project designed to study a sample of molecular clouds at near (d < 500 pc) and intermediate (d <5 kpc) distances in polarized Far-IR light. Near-IR starlight polarization combined with Gaia data provide information on the connection of dense clouds to its diffuse natal environment. SIMPLIFI also uses molecular line emission to study the relative alignment of gas flows and magnetic fields and tests key theoretical predictions of MHD turbulence. I will present highlights from the legacy survey program that start to clarify the role of magnetic fields in a diverse sample of star-forming filaments, and provide a framework to simplify the diversity of filament properties.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- January 2023
- Bibcode:
- 2023AAS...24130803P