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Context. The sub-millimetre polarisation of dust emission from star- forming clouds carries information on grain properties and on the effects that magnetic fields have on cloud evolution. Aims: Using observations of a dense filamentary cloud G035.39-00.33, we aim to characterise the dust emission properties and the variations of the polarisation fraction. Methods: JCMT SCUBA-2/POL-2 observations at 850 μm were combined with Planck 850 μm(353 GHz) data to map polarisation fraction at small and large scales. With previous total intensity SCUBA-2 observations (450 and 850 μm) and Herschel data, the column densities were determined via modified black-body fits and via radiative transfer modelling. Models were constructed to examine how the observed polarisation angles and fractions depend on potential magnetic field geometries and grain alignment processes. Results: POL-2 data show clear changes in the magnetic field orientation. These are not in contradiction with the uniform orientation and almost constant polarisation fraction seen by Planck, because of the difference in the beam sizes and the POL-2 data being affected by spatial filtering. The filament has a peak column density of N(H2) 7 × 1022 cm-2, a minimum dust temperature of T 12 K, and a mass of 4300 M☉ for the area N(H2) > 5 × 1021 cm-2. The estimated average value of the dust opacity spectral index is β 1.9. The ratio of sub-millimetre and J-band optical depths is τ (250 μm)/τ (J) 2.5 × 10-3, more than four times the typical values for diffuse medium. The polarisation fraction decreases as a function of column density to p 1% in the central filament. Because of noise, the observed decrease of p(N) is significant only at N(H2) > 2 × 1022 cm-2. The observations suggest that the grain alignment is not constant. Although the data can be explained with a complete loss of alignment at densities above 104 cm-3 or using the predictions of radiative torques alignment, the uncertainty of the field geometry and the spatial filtering of the SCUBA-2 data prevent strong conclusions. Conclusions: The G035.39-00.33 filament shows strong signs of dust evolution and the low polarisation fraction is suggestive of a loss of polarised emission from its densest parts.

The association of filaments with protostellar objects has made these structures a priority target in star formation studies. The datasets of the Herschel Galactic Cold Cores Key Programme allow for a statistical study of filaments with a wide range of intrinsic and environmental characteristics. Characterisation of this sample can be used to identify key physical parameters and quantify the role of environment in the formation of supercritical filaments. Filaments were extracted from fields at DMcrit/2 may become supercritical and form stars. This translates into a need for filaments to become at least moderately self-gravitating in order to undergo localised star formation or become star-forming filaments., Accepted for publication in A&A

Various studies have emphasized variations of the charge state and composition of the interstellar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) population in photodissociation regions (PDRs). We aim to model the spatial evolution of the charge and hydrogenation states of PAHs in PDRs. We focus on the specific case of the north-west (NW) PDR of NGC 7023 and also discuss the case of the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM). The physical conditions in NGC 7023 NW are modelled using a state-of-the-art PDR code. We then use a new PAH chemical evolution model that includes recent experimental data on PAHs and describes multiphoton events. We consider a family of compact PAHs bearing up to 96 carbon atoms. The calculated ionization ratio is in good agreement with observations in NGC 7023 NW. Within the PDR, PAHs evolve into three major populations: medium-sized PAHs (5090) can be superhydrogenated, and smaller species (Nc, Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures; Accepted for publication in A&A

Context. The onset of star formation is intimately linked with the presence of massive unstable filamentary structures. These filaments are therefore key for theoretical models that aim to reproduce the observed characteristics of the star formation process in the Galaxy.\ud \ud Aims. As part of the filament study carried out by the Herschel Galactic Cold Cores Key Programme, here we study and discuss the filament properties presented in GCC VII (Paper I) in context with theoretical models of filament formation and evolution.\ud \ud Methods. A conservatively selected sample of filaments located at a distance D< 500 pc was extracted from the GCC fields with the getfilaments algorithm. The physical structure of the filaments was quantified according to two main components: the central (Gaussian) region of the filament (core component), and the power-law-like region dominating the filament column density profile at larger radii (wing component). The properties and behaviour of these components relative to the total linear mass density of the filament and the column density of its environment were compared with the predictions from theoretical models describing the evolution of filaments under gravity-dominated conditions.\ud \ud Results. The feasibility of a transition from a subcritical to supercritical state by accretion at any given time is dependent on the combined effect of filament intrinsic properties and environmental conditions. Reasonably self-gravitating (high Mline,core) filaments in dense environments (AV≳ 3 mag) can become supercritical on timescales of t ~ 1 Myr by accreting mass at constant or decreasing width. The trend of increasing Mline,tot (Mline,core and Mline,wing) and ridge AV with background for the filament population also indicates that the precursors of star-forming filaments evolve coevally with their environment. The simultaneous increase of environment and filament AV explains the observed association between dense environments and high Mline,core values, and it argues against filaments remaining in constant single-pressure equilibrium states. The simultaneous growth of filament and background in locations with efficient mass assembly, predicted in numerical models of filaments in collapsing clouds, presents a suitable scenario for the fulfillment of the combined filament mass−environment criterium that is in quantitative agreement with Herschel observations

We propose a new mission called Space Project for Astrophysical and Cosmological Exploration (SPACE) as part on the ESA long term planning Voyage 2050 programme. SPACE will study galaxy evolution at the earliest times, with the key goals of charting the formation of the heavy elements, measuring the evolution of the galaxy luminosity function, tracing the build-up of stellar mass in galaxies over cosmic time, and finding the first super-massive black holes (SMBHs) to form. The mission will exploit a unique region of the parameter space, between the narrow ultra-deep surveys with HST and JWST, and shallow wide-field surveys such as Roman Space Telescope and EUCLID, and should yield by far the largest sample of any current or planned mission of very high redshift galaxies at z > 10 which are sufficiently bright for detailed follow-up spectroscopy. Crucially, we propose a wide-field spectroscopic near-IR + mid-IR capability which will greatly enhance our understanding of the first galaxies by detecting and identifying a statistical sample of the first galaxies and the first SMBH, and to chart the metal enrichment history of galaxies in the early Universe - potentially finding signatures of the very first stars to form from metal-free primordial gas. The wide-field and wavelength range of SPACE will also provide us a unique opportunity to study star formation by performing a wide survey of the Milky Way in the near-IR + mid-IR. This science project can be enabled either by a stand-alone ESA-led M mission or by an instrument for an L mission (with ESA and/or NASA, JAXA and other international space agencies) with a wide-field (sub-)millimetre capability at wavelength > 500 microns.