High Angular Resolution Study of the Ion and Neutral Spectra as a Probe of the Magnetic Field Structure

Abstract

We present the observations and analysis of the spectral linewidths of neutral and ion species across the DR21(OH) core to investigate the cyclotron interaction as a probe of magnetic fields. It has been suggested that under average interstellar field strengths the cyclotron interaction between ions and magnetic fields is strong enough to narrow the linewidth and suppress the line wings in the ion spectra. We have obtained high spatial resolution spectral line images of H¹³CN and H¹³CO⁺ at 3 mm in DR21(OH) with the Millimeter Array of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. Our results show that in the eastern parts of the DR21(OH) core the spectral linewidth of the ions is narrower than that of the neutrals. We use our results, along with the existing Zeeman and dust/CO polarization data on small scales, to derive the 3D magnetic field structure. We obtain a field strength of 0.44 ± 0.12 mG with inclination of 36° to the line of sight, directed toward the observer, and a position angle of −75° in the plane of the sky.