The magnetic field in the Sagittarius B2 cloud

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Abstract
We present the results of the first study of polarized submillimetre emission from the Sgr B2 giant molecular cloud. Detections were obtained for six out of 10 positions studied, with percentage polarizations of 0.8-2.6 per cent. For five of the positions, the polarization vectors are aligned at an angle close to 15° east of north, indicating a global magnetic field oriented approximately east-west. This direction is perpendicular to the long axis of the cloud, suggesting infall of material primarily down the field lines, in agreement with theoretical models. A polarization 'hole' is found towards two high-mass embedded objects, as has previously been observed in other molecular clouds; the most likely explanation for Sgr B2 is a change in field direction in the cores away from the plane of the sky.

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