Binary Star Formation: Magnetic Outflows Solve Decades-Old Angular Momentum Puzzle

Binary star formation mystery solved: NAOJ ATERUI III simulations show magnetic fields strip angular momentum from forming protostar pairs at up to 0.7 percent per orbital period, explaining why binary systems form fast enough to match observed compact orbits. The same magnetohydrodynamic mechanism may resolve the final parsec problem for supermassive black hole mergers.