Onsala Space Observatory | Chalmers University | 2018 Jan 29
[img3="Magnetic fields play an important role in the places where most massive stars are born. In this illustration, bright spots represent the sources of radio signals from methanol masers, and the curved lines represent the magnetic field. Credit: Wolfgang Steffen/Boy Lankhaar et al. (molecules: WikiCommons/Ben Mills)"]https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4629/3906 ... 72e1_b.jpg[/img3][hr][/hr]A team of scientists ... has solved an important puzzle in astrochemistry: how to measure magnetic fields in space using methanol, the simplest form of alcohol...
Over the last half-century, many molecules have been discovered in space. Using radio telescopes, astronomers have with the help of these molecules been able to investigate just what happens in the dark and dense clouds where new stars and planets are born.
Scientists can measure temperature, pressure and gas motions when they study the signature of molecules in the signals they detect. But especially where the most massive stars are born, there’s another major player that’s more difficult to measure: magnetic fields...
Using measurements of methanol (CH3OH) in space to investigate magnetic fields was suggested many decades ago. In the dense gas surrounding many newborn stars, methanol molecules shine brightly as natural microwave lasers, or masers. The signals we can measure from methanol masers are both strong and emitted at very specific frequencies. ...
Characterization of methanol as a magnetic field tracer in star-forming regions - Boy Lankhaar et al
- Nature Astronomy 2:145 (29 Jan 2018) DOI: 10.1038/s41550-017-0341-8
