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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0The Astrophysical Journal

Magnetic Fields and Asymmetric Accretion in the Class 0 Protostellar System L1527 IRS

  • Hanju Nam1
  • Woojin Kwon1
  • Youngwoo Choi1
  • Ian Stephens2
  • Leslie Looney3
  1. 1Seoul National University
  2. 2Worcester State University
  3. 3University of Illinois
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Abstract

Magnetic fields play a crucial role in regulating the collapse of dense molecular clouds, shaping the early stages of protostellar evolution. We present polarization observations in submillimeter wavelengths with the SCUBA-2/POL-2 instrument on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope toward the Class 0 protostellar system L1527 IRS (IRAS 04368+2557). The magnetic field morphology varies across the core of L1527 IRS. Magnetic fields in the eastern region are perpendicular to the outflow axis, while those in the western region show a pinched morphology, overall aligned with the outflow cavity. These distinct bipolar outflow regions also have a clear color difference in near-infrared observed by the James Webb Space Telescope. In addition, the spectral index derived from 450 and 850 μ m observations reveals that the northwestern region of the protostellar system is colder and denser compared to the southeastern region. Furthermore, in the large-scale structures and magnetic fields revealed by Herschel and Planck, we find a ∼0.1 pc scale filamentary structure parallel to the large-scale magnetic fields in the eastern region and a relatively isotropic mass distribution in the western region. Based on these results, we propose an accretion scenario of the protostellar system in which an asymmetric mass distribution causes the distinct features observed in near-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{nam2026magnetic,
  title = {{Magnetic Fields and Asymmetric Accretion in the Class 0 Protostellar System L1527 IRS}},
  author = {Hanju Nam and Woojin Kwon and Youngwoo Choi and Ian Stephens and Leslie Looney},
  journal = {The Astrophysical Journal},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aea568},
  url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea568},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Magnetic Fields and Asymmetric Accretion in the Class 0 Protostellar System L1527 IRS
AU  - Hanju Nam
AU  - Woojin Kwon
AU  - Youngwoo Choi
AU  - Ian Stephens
AU  - Leslie Looney
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
JO  - The Astrophysical Journal
DO  - 10.3847/1538-4357/aea568
UR  - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea568
AB  - Magnetic fields play a crucial role in regulating the collapse of dense molecular clouds, shaping the early stages of protostellar evolution. We present polarization observations in submillimeter wavelengths with the SCUBA-2/POL-2 instrument on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope toward the Class 0 protostellar system L1527 IRS (IRAS 04368+2557). The magnetic field morphology varies across the core of L1527 IRS. Magnetic fields in the eastern region are perpendicular to the outflow axis, while those in the western region show a pinched morphology, overall aligned with the outflow cavity. These distinct bipolar outflow regions also have a clear color difference in near-infrared observed by the James Webb Space Telescope. In addition, the spectral index derived from 450 and 850 μ m observations reveals that the northwestern region of the protostellar system is colder and denser compared to the southeastern region. Furthermore, in the large-scale structures and magnetic fields revealed by Herschel and Planck, we find a ∼0.1 pc scale filamentary structure parallel to the large-scale magnetic fields in the eastern region and a relatively isotropic mass distribution in the western region. Based on these results, we propose an accretion scenario of the protostellar system in which an asymmetric mass distribution causes the distinct features observed in near-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths.
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
ER  -