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arXiv · 2611.07839

Multi-layer magnetic structure toward NGC 1333 revealed by a square-degree optical polarimetric survey

G. A. P. Franco·J. M. Girart·F. O. Alves
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Abstract

Magnetic-field studies of star-forming regions are complicated by overlapping structures along the line of sight. We investigate the large-scale magnetic field toward NGC~1333 in Perseus, accounting for foreground polarization through stellar distances and optical polarimetry. Our wide-field $R$-band survey covers nearly one square degree and provides polarization measurements for approximately 840 stars, with distances from Gaia DR3 and StarHorse. We used polarization-distance trends and Stokes parameters to identify line-of-sight components and estimate foreground polarization. After subtracting it in Stokes space, we characterized the field using circular statistics and the angular dispersion function (ADF), comparing it with molecular-line and complementary polarimetric observations. The data reveal a polarized foreground at 160-300 pc and a cloud component beyond 300 pc. After correction, the plane-of-sky field rotates smoothly from $126.3°\pm0.8°$ in the northwest to $162.2°\pm0.6°$ in the southeast, remaining well ordered in both regions. The ADF gives turbulent-to-ordered field ratios of $0.054^{+0.025}_{-0.022}$ and $0.095^{+0.021}_{-0.047}$, corresponding to plane-of-sky strengths of $59^{+44}_{-23}$ and $46^{+50}_{-13}~μ\mathrm{G}$. Residual foreground fluctuations may affect these estimates. CO data show multiple velocity components with spatially varying contributions. Corrected optical polarization agrees with the large-scale orientation traced by Planck, while near-infrared and JCMT/POL-2 data reveal localized deviations in denser structures. Our results indicate a coherent cloud-scale magnetic field with a smoothly changing orientation, alongside localized variations in dense structures. They demonstrate the value of combining stellar distances and wide-field optical polarimetry to disentangle foreground contributions.

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G. A. P. Franco, J. M. Girart, F. O. Alves. 2026-11-05. Multi-layer magnetic structure toward NGC 1333 revealed by a square-degree optical polarimetric survey. https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.07839

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