The small-scale density and velocity structure of quiescent molecular clouds

Details The small-scale density and velocity structure of quiescent molecular clouds The small-scale density and velocity structure of quiescent molecular clouds

Apr 1992

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992a%26a...257..715f&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 257, no. 2, p. 715-730.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

184

Density Distribution, Gravitational Collapse, Interstellar Gas, Molecular Clouds, Abundance, Carbon Monoxide, Interstellar Matter, Molecular Gases, Molecular Rotation

Scientific paper

Using an ensemble of maps in rotational transitions of CO isotopic variants, obtained in a variety of clouds, the features of the link between the velocity and density fields in molecular gas little contaminated by star formation activity were identified. The paradoxical role played by a turbulent velocity field, predicted to generate density fluctuations and to stabilize the unstable masses against gravitational collapse, is analyzed. It is shown that 32 structures isolated in the (l, b, v) data cubes of five different clouds trace concentrations of gas, without prejudice to their own internal density structure. The results obtained on small-scale structures are combined with those on larger structures drawn from previous work and the literature, with the resulting ensemble covering a range of sizes and average densities large enough to reveal new properties of the scaling laws between cloud characteristics. The results suggest that the velocity field is able to generate inhomogeneities in the mass distribution of molecular clouds and that, up to some threshold, this distribution is independent of self-gravity.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The small-scale density and velocity structure of quiescent molecular clouds does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The small-scale density and velocity structure of quiescent molecular clouds, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The small-scale density and velocity structure of quiescent molecular clouds will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1731905