Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study
Molecular clouds (MCs) are highly structured and turbulent. Colliding gas streams of atomic hydrogen have been suggested as a possible source of MCs, imprinting the filamentary structure as a consequence of dynamical and thermal instabilities. We present a two-dimensional numerical analysis of MC fo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Physics Publishing
2005
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| _version_ | 1797105317049270272 |
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| author | Heitsch, F Burkert, A Hartmann, L Slyz, A Devriendt, J |
| author_facet | Heitsch, F Burkert, A Hartmann, L Slyz, A Devriendt, J |
| author_sort | Heitsch, F |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Molecular clouds (MCs) are highly structured and turbulent. Colliding gas streams of atomic hydrogen have been suggested as a possible source of MCs, imprinting the filamentary structure as a consequence of dynamical and thermal instabilities. We present a two-dimensional numerical analysis of MC formation via converging H I flows. Even with modest flow speeds and completely uniform inflows, nonlinear density perturbations arise as possible precursors of MCs. Thus, we suggest that MCs are inevitably formed with substantial structure, e.g., strong density and velocity fluctuations, which provide the initial conditions for subsequent gravitational collapse and star formation in a variety of Galactic and extragalactic environments. © 2005. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T06:45:46Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:facc4e27-f50c-4cff-b342-ce60653ac799 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T06:45:46Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | Institute of Physics Publishing |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:facc4e27-f50c-4cff-b342-ce60653ac7992022-03-27T13:08:57ZFormation of structure in molecular clouds: A case studyJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:facc4e27-f50c-4cff-b342-ce60653ac799EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordInstitute of Physics Publishing2005Heitsch, FBurkert, AHartmann, LSlyz, ADevriendt, JMolecular clouds (MCs) are highly structured and turbulent. Colliding gas streams of atomic hydrogen have been suggested as a possible source of MCs, imprinting the filamentary structure as a consequence of dynamical and thermal instabilities. We present a two-dimensional numerical analysis of MC formation via converging H I flows. Even with modest flow speeds and completely uniform inflows, nonlinear density perturbations arise as possible precursors of MCs. Thus, we suggest that MCs are inevitably formed with substantial structure, e.g., strong density and velocity fluctuations, which provide the initial conditions for subsequent gravitational collapse and star formation in a variety of Galactic and extragalactic environments. © 2005. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. |
| spellingShingle | Heitsch, F Burkert, A Hartmann, L Slyz, A Devriendt, J Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study |
| title | Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study |
| title_full | Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study |
| title_fullStr | Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study |
| title_short | Formation of structure in molecular clouds: A case study |
| title_sort | formation of structure in molecular clouds a case study |
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