Magnetic Fields and Star Formation in IC1396A Globule Probed by Submillimeter-wave Polarimetry

Ramon Wada  (Kagoshima University)

IC 1396A is a globule residing at the western edge of the IC 1396 HII region in the Cepheus OB2 Association. Previous studies, including Gaia EDR3, have revealed the presence of 1536 young objects inside IC 1396, many of which are concentrated towards the central region of the HII region. Particularly prominent is the presence of the O-type star HD 206267 near the center, whose influence has caused the rim of the IC 1396A globule to be irradiated, resulting in an arc-like shape of the globule. Within the IC 1396A globule, several tens of young stars and YSOs were detected, indicating triggered star formation processes ongoing.

In this study, we conducted submillimeter polarization observations at lambda 850 μm using the JCMT 15m submillimeter telescope to estimate the physical properties, including the magnetic field within the globule. Analyzing the mass distribution and detecting the magnetic field, we identified some star formation characteristics in and around the globule. In this presentation, we discuss relative magnetic field strengths within the globule, assuming the DCF method, and the influence of the magnetic field on the ongoing star formation processes.