2025MNRAS.536.2381N

This study examines the relationship between the magnetic field orientation of a molecular cloud and its outflow axis, using data from 22 molecular clouds. We find that the position angles of the outflow axis ($\theta _{\text{out}}$) and the cloud-scale magnetic field in the core, measured in the submillimetre region ($\theta _B^{\text{sub}}$), are correlated to each other irrespective of the alignment or misalignment between the two axes. However, it is important to note that these observed position angles are projections on to the plane of the sky. To assess the statistical significance of our findings, we conduct a statistical test to account for the projection effect and find minimal impact. Moreover, we identify a possible role of the Galactic magnetic field orientation ($\theta _{\text{GP}}$) in determining the outflow direction by assessing the offset ($\theta _{\text{off}} = \theta _B - \theta _{\text{GP}}$) in both the core and envelope regions. Furthermore, we explore the influence of parameters such as magnetic field strength (B), the position angle of the minor axis of the cloud cores ($\theta _{\text{min}}$), the inclination angle of the outflow ($i_{\text{out}}$), and other factors on the alignment between the outflow and cloud-scale magnetic field axes ($|\theta _{\text{OB}}| = |\theta _{\text{out}} - \theta _B^{\text{sub}}|$). Our analysis suggests that the orientation of the outflow axis is determined by the combined influence of the magnetic field orientation, the minor axis, the inclination angle of the outflow, and the associated magnetic field strength.