Magnetic Fields and Massive Star Formation

Massive stars (M> 8 M) typically form in parsec-scale molecular clumps that collapse and fragment, leading to the birth of a cluster of stellar objects. We investigate the role of magnetic fields in this process through dust polarization at 870 µm obtained with the Submillimeter Array (SMA). The SMA observa-tions reveal polarization at scales of < ∼ 0.1 pc. The polarization pattern in these objects ranges from ordered hour-glass configurations to more chaotic distribu-tions. By comparing the SMA data with the single dish data at parsec scales, we found that magnetic fields at dense core scales are either aligned within 40 ◦ of or perpendicular to the parsec-scale magnetic fields. This finding indicates tha