Submillimeter polarimetry of the protostellar outflow sources in Serpens with the submillimeter common-user bolometer array

Submillimeter polarimetric measurements of the 850 mu m dust continuum emis sion associated with the class 0/I protostars in the Serpens dark cloud cor e are presented. The data are used to infer the magnetic field morphology i n the region. Dust grain alignment in accretion flows and/or outflows is al so briefly considered. The polarization vectors around the SMM-NW cluster o f sources are more ordered than those observed near the SMM-SE cluster. Tow ard SMM-NW, the vectors are generally orientated north-south; between the i ntensity peaks in the SMM-SE region, the vectors are approximately east-wes t. In both regions, we suggest that the polarization pattern may be dictate d by a large-scale magnetic field. We consider whether the rough northwest- southeast ridge of submillimeter sources was formed via cloud collapse alon g field lines that run perpendicular to this ridge. However, our data offer only very tentative support for this hypothesis. We further note that, alt hough overall the polarization pattern in Serpens does not appear to be aff ected by the many outflows in the region, toward the most luminous source, SMM 1, the source of the Serpens radio jet, the vectors deviate considerabl y from the general pattern, instead being roughly perpendicular to the flow axis, as one would expect from a B-field oriented parallel with the flow.