The JCMT BISTRO Survey: The Magnetic Fields of the IC 348 Star-forming Region
Authors: Choi Youngwoo , Kwon Woojin , Pattle Kate , Arzoumanian Doris , Bourke Tyler L. , Hoang Thiem , Hwang Jihye , Koch Patrick M. , Sadavoy Sarah , Bastien Pierre , Furuya Ray , Lai Shih-Ping , Qiu Keping , Ward-Thompson Derek , Berry David , Byun Do-Young , Chen Huei-Ru Vivien , Chen Wen Ping , Chen Mike , Chen Zhiwei , Ching Tao-Chung , Cho Jungyeon , Choi Minho , Choi Yunhee , Coudé Simon , Chrysostomou Antonio , Chung Eun Jung , Dai Sophia , Debattista Victor , Di Francesco James , Diep Pham Ngoc , Doi Yasuo , Duan Hao-Yuan , Duan Yan , Eswaraiah Chakali , Fanciullo Lapo , Fiege Jason , Fissel Laura M. , Franzmann Erica , Friberg Per , Friesen Rachel , Fuller Gary , Gledhill Tim , Graves Sarah , Greaves Jane , Griffin Matt , Gu Qilao , Han Ilseung , Hasegawa Tetsuo , Houde Martin , Hull Charles L. H. , Inoue Tsuyoshi , Inutsuka Shu-ichiro , Iwasaki Kazunari , Jeong Il-Gyo , Johnstone Doug , Karoly Janik , Könyves Vera , Kang Ji-hyun , Kang Miju , Kataoka Akimasa , Kawabata Koji , Kemper Francisca , Kim Jongsoo , Kim Shinyoung , Kim Gwanjeong , Kim Kyoung Hee , Kim Mi-Ryang , Kim Kee-Tae , Kim Hyosung , Kirchschlager Florian , Kirk Jason , Kobayashi Masato I. N. , Kusune Takayoshi , Kwon Jungmi , Lacaille Kevin , Law Chi-Yan , Lee Chang Won , Lee Hyeseung , Lee Chin-Fei , Lee Jeong-Eun , Lee Sang-Sung , Li Dalei , Li Di , Li Guangxing , Li Hua-bai , Lin Sheng-Jun , Liu Hong-Li , Liu Tie , Liu Sheng-Yuan , Liu Junhao , Longmore Steven , Lu Xing , Lyo A-Ran , Mairs Steve , Matsumura Masafumi , Matthews Brenda , Moriarty-Schieven Gerald , Nagata Tetsuya , Nakamura Fumitaka , Nakanishi Hiroyuki , Ngoc Nguyen Bich , Ohashi Nagayoshi , Onaka Takashi , Park Geumsook , Parsons Harriet , Peretto Nicolas , Priestley Felix , Pyo Tae-Soo , Qian Lei , Rao Ramprasad , Rawlings Jonathan , Rawlings Mark , Retter Brendan , Richer John , Rigby Andrew , Saito Hiro , Savini Giorgio , Seta Masumichi , Sharma Ekta , Shimajiri Yoshito , Shinnaga Hiroko , Soam Archana , Tahani Mehrnoosh , Tamura Motohide , Tang Ya-Wen , Tang Xindi , Tomisaka Kohji , Tram Le Ngoc , Tsukamoto Yusuke , Viti Serena , Wang Hongchi , Wang Jia-Wei , Whitworth Anthony , Wu Jintai , Xie Jinjin , Yang Meng-Zhe , Yen Hsi-Wei , Yoo Hyunju , Yuan Jinghua , Yun Hyeong-Sik , Zenko Tetsuya , Zhang Guoyin , Zhang Yapeng , Zhang Chuan-Peng , Zhou Jianjun , Zhu Lei , de Looze Ilse , André Philippe , Dowell C. Darren , Eden David , Eyres Stewart , Falle Sam , Le Gouellec Valentin J. M. , Poidevin Frédérick , van Loo Sven 
Published: November 2024

We present 850 μm polarization observations of the IC 348 star-forming region in the Perseus molecular cloud as part of the B-fields In STar-forming Region Observation survey. We study the magnetic properties of two cores (HH 211 MMS and IC 348 MMS) and a filamentary structure of IC 348. We find that the overall field tends to be more perpendicular than parallel to the filamentary structure of the region. The polarization fraction decreases with intensity, and we estimate the trend by power law and the mean of the Rice distribution fittings. The power indices for the cores are much smaller than 1, indicative of possible grain growth to micron size in the cores. We also measure the magnetic field strengths of the two cores and the filamentary area separately by applying the Davis–Chandrasekhar–Fermi method and its alternative version for compressed medium. The estimated mass-to-flux ratios are 0.45–2.20 and 0.63–2.76 for HH 211 MMS and IC 348 MMS, respectively, while the ratios for the filament are 0.33–1.50. This result may suggest that the transition from subcritical to supercritical conditions occurs at the core scale (∼0.05 pc) in the region. In addition, we study the energy balance of the cores and find that the relative strength of turbulence to the magnetic field tends to be stronger for IC 348 MMS than for HH 211 MMS. The result could potentially explain the different configurations inside the two cores: a single protostellar system in HH 211 MMS and multiple protostars in IC 348 MMS.