Distortion of Magnetic Fields in a Starless Core: Near-Infrared Polarimetry of FeSt 1-457

Magnetic fields are believed to play an important role in controlling the stability and contraction of dense condensations of gas and dust leading to the formation of stars and planetary systems. In the present study, the magnetic field of FeSt 1-457, a cold starless molecular cloud core, was mapped on the basis of the polarized near-infrared light from 185 background stars after being dichroically absorbed by dust aligned with the magnetic field in the core. A distinct "hourglass-shaped" magnetic field was identified in the region of the core, which was interpreted as the first evidence of a magnetic field structure distorted by mass condensation in a starless core. The steep curvature of the magnetic field lines obtained in the present study indicates that the distortion was mainly created during the formation phase of the dense core. The derived mass-to-magnetic flux ratio indicates that the core is in a magnetically supercritical state. However, the stability of the core can be considered to be in a nearly critical state if the additional contributions from the thermal and turbulent support are included. Further diffusion of the magnetic field and/or turbulent dissipation would cause the onset of dynamical collapse of the core. The geometrical relationship between the direction of the magnetic field lines and the elongation of the core was found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for the formation of Sun-like stars under the influence of a magnetic field.