NIRI SV observation 18

NGC 2071IR is an active star forming region, in the northern complex of Orion. This region is highly polarized around IRS 1, 2, 3 and 4, with the polarization increases radially outwards from IRS1. This is a common feature of optically thin scattering; yet, it is unclear whether the high polarization is dust or gas scattering. Concentric vector patterns are seen around both IRS1 and IRS8. Although IRS1 is believed to be the primary source of the outflow, IRS8 may also be contributing to the complexity of the region. IRS1, a point source, is highly polarized (35%) and there is a molecular disk in the NW-SE direction lying across IRS1. Multiple scattering in the molecular disk can only give a maximum polarization of 20%, suggesting that either there is an additional or different source of polarization contributing to IRS1. The central region of NGC2071IR has very little (low) polarization and the edges of the outflow are highly polarized (~60%). This region also has large amounts of shocked molecular hydrogen distributed along the axis of the outflow.

Polarimetry imaging data will distinguish the polarization due to continuum or H2 emission scattering (or both). From these data, we will be able to (i) plot the intensity and (ii) the degree of polarization and position angle in the continuum and lines in IRS1 and the central region of NGC2071IR at a spatial resolution of 0.1"/pixel. This high-resolution data will aid in understanding the geometry and scattering from continuum and/or H2 emission scattering of NGC2071IR, as well as the magnetic field. We will also employ the CO band head and BrGamma filters, to see if there is any contributions from these wavelengths, as they have been seen in IRS1. The high spatial resolution, which only Gemini can give, will aid in resolving many unanswered questions.