Mathematics – Probability
Scientific paper
Oct 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982apj...261..532h&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 261, Oct. 15, 1982, p. 532-542.
Mathematics
Probability
26
Astronomical Models, Interstellar Gas, Mass Spectra, Molecular Clouds, Coalescing, Collision Parameters, Distribution Functions, Monte Carlo Method
Scientific paper
Monte Carlo simulations of the evolution of systems of colliding clouds are presented and compared with the observed interstellar cloud mass spectrum and velocity dispersion. Compared with observed clouds, whose mass spectrum is nearly a power law of index -1.5 to -2.0 and whose velocity dispersions are apparently independent of mass, those collisional models which include a realistic, velocity-dependent probability of fragmentation or coalescence predict that either the mass spectrum or the velocity-mass relation should fall more steeply with mass than is in fact observed. This suggests that either noncollisional processes are dominant in determining interstellar cloud statistics or that some unknown factor makes cloud collisions far more adhesive than predicted by hydrodynamic calculations. These implications are discussed and consideration is given to making collisional theory consistent with observed cloud statistics.
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