SOFIA/HAWC+ Far-infrared Polarimetric Large Area CMZ Exploration Survey. II. Detection of a Magnetized Dust Ring in the Galactic Center

Abstract

We present the detection of a magnetized dust ring (M0.8–0.2) in the central molecular zone (CMZ) of the Galactic center. The results presented in this paper utilize the first data release of the Far-Infrared Polarimetric Large Area CMZ Emission (FIREPLACE) survey (i.e., Paper I of this series). The FIREPLACE survey is a 214 μ m polarimetric survey of the Galactic center using the SOFIA/HAWC+ telescope. The M0.8–0.2 ring is a region of gas and dust that has a circular morphology with a central depression. The dust polarization in the M0.8–0.2 ring implies a curved magnetic field that traces the ring-like structure of the cloud. We posit an interpretation in which an expanding shell compresses and concentrates the ambient gas and magnetic field. We argue that this compression results in strengthening of the magnetic field, as we infer from the observations toward the interior of the ring.

Keywords

• Dust continuum emission
• Galactic center
• Polarimetry
• Interstellar medium