Understanding magnetic fields in the bones of the Milky Way |
The FIELDMAPS survey uses the HAWC+ polarimeter on SOFIA to map the magnetic fields of the densest and most elongated molecular clouds in the Milky Way: filamentary structures termed “bones.” The survey has so far produced polarization maps for seven of these bones. Survey goals include investigating (1) the role of magnetic fields in the formation of bones, (2) how the field varies between arm and inter-arm bones, and (3) whether or not fields bend into filaments to build gas flows to the largest gravitational potential well.
Above image: Line Integral Convolution map along filament G47 from Stephens et al. (2022). |
