M⁴ Science Mission

This page summarizes the goals of the Milky Way Magnetic Field Mapping Mission (M⁴), as defined at the M4 Science Advisory Committee Meeting, held in Boston & Cambridge on February 24-25, 1997.

Technical Specifications (SMEX)

• 100 micron polarimetry (firm)
• 60 micron polarimetry (maybe)
• 40-cm diameter telescope (firm)
• PSF ~1 arcmin
• 3 month minimum mission, not including calibration phase
  

---

Galactic Plane Survey (4 Weeks)

Mapping of the Magnetic Field of the Inner Galaxy: +/- 1.5 deg, fully-sampled "super-resolution";+/- ~5 deg, somewhat undersampled

• Structural connections between star-forming regions, relationship to galactic magnetic field (3-D structure of plane-of-sky field, incorporating spectral-line data)
• What is the role of the magnetic field in high-mass star-forming regions and complexes?
  • -Field Structure (Morphology & Dispersion) in star-forming regions
  • -5 kpc ring contains ~1000 IRAS PSC objects
• Ambient Field in Central 100 pc of Galaxy
• Shells, Loops, Chimneys, Bubbles, Worms
  

---

Survey of The Nearest Star-Forming Complex: Ophiuchus (3 weeks)

• Field Structure (Morphology & Dispersion) in star forming regions--field connections between star-forming sites
• Distinctions between starless and isolated/clustered star-forming clouds
  

---

Cirrus (2 weeks)

• Magnetic Control of Cirrus Structures?
• Constraints on Dust Properties
  

---

Guest Investigator Program (3 weeks)

• Extragalactic sources
  

---

Calibration & Contingency (1 month)

---

Extended Mission

• 50% Guest Investigator
• 50% Science Team
  • more high-latitude science
  • extend longitude coverage
  • Perseus, Taurus & Orion

Page created by A. Goodman, 2/26/97.