2000ApJ...530L.115D

Submillimeter polarimetric measurements of the 850 µm dust continuum emission associated with the class 0/I protostars in the Serpens dark cloud core are presented. The data are used to infer the magnetic field morphology in the region. Dust grain alignment in accretion flows and/or outflows is also briefly considered. The polarization vectors around the SMM-NW cluster of sources are more ordered than those observed near the SMM-SE cluster. Toward SMM-NW, the vectors are generally orientated north-south; between the intensity peaks in the SMM-SE region, the vectors are approximately east-west. In both regions, we suggest that the polarization pattern may be dictated by a large-scale magnetic field. We consider whether the rough northwest-southeast ridge of submillimeter sources was formed via cloud collapse along field lines that run perpendicular to this ridge. However, our data offer only very tentative support for this hypothesis. We further note that, although overall the polarization pattern in Serpens does not appear to be affected by the many outflows in the region, toward the most luminous source, SMM 1, the source of the Serpens radio jet, the vectors deviate considerably from the general pattern, instead being roughly perpendicular to the flow axis, as one would expect from a B-field oriented parallel with the flow.