Astronomers have made a breakthrough by observing the magnetic field surrounding a young star believed to be in the process of planet formation. Utilizing dust particles, the research team successfully mapped the three-dimensional ‘fingerprint’ of the star’s magnetic field. This achievement is expected to enhance our understanding of how planets come into existence.
For the first time, astronomers have successfully observed the magnetic field encircling a young star where planets are believed to form. The research team used dust to analyze the three-dimensional ‘fingerprint’ of the magnetic field, which will enhance our knowledge of planet formation.
Planets develop in dynamic disks of gas and dust, termed protoplanetary disks, situated around young stars. The initial stage of planet formation is thought to involve dust grains colliding and adhering to one another. The movement of these dust particles is affected by various forces, including magnetic forces. Therefore, understanding magnetic fields is crucial for grasping the process of planet formation; however, measuring these magnetic fields in a protoplanetary disk has previously been challenging.
In this study, an international group of astronomers, led by Satoshi Ohashi from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, utilized the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe the protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star named HD 142527. This star is situated 512 light-years away in the constellation Lupus. The team discovered that the dust grains oriented themselves in alignment with the magnetic field lines. This enabled the researchers to detect and measure these invisible magnetic field lines, similar to how iron filings can illustrate the magnetic field around a magnet. The team believes that the identified three-dimensional structure may induce significant turbulence within the protoplanetary disk.
Having validated this method of detecting a young star’s magnetic fingerprint, the team aims to apply it to additional stars and measure the magnetic field in closer proximity to the star to gain deeper insights into the magnetic conditions present during planet formation.
