Concerning the preferred surface density of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy

Details Concerning the preferred surface density of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy Concerning the preferred surface density of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy

Feb 1989

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989a%26a...211...37m&link_type=abstract

Astronomy and Astrophysics (ISSN 0004-6361), vol. 211, no. 1, Feb. 1989, p. 37-40. Research supported by the Minerva Gesellschaf

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

2

Milky Way Galaxy, Molecular Clouds, Gravitational Effects, Luminosity, Magellanic Clouds, Many Body Problem

Scientific paper

The virial surface densities of giant molecular clouds in the galaxy, or, equivalently, the mean acceleration within them, vary only a little among the observed clouds. The values of the mean internal accelerations lie in a narrow range around 10 to the -8th cm/sq sec. A tentative explanation for this selectiveness is suggested, whereby the prominent value of the surface density is the acceleration constant, a(0), of the modified dynamics in disguise. Underlying this mechanism are two facts. First, a relaxed N-body system with an approximately uniform velocity-dispersion (as the clouds are assumed to be) always expands if necessary, so as to make its mean acceleration of order or smaller than a(0). Second, galactic clouds whose internal accelerations are in the vicinity of this value are less vulnerable to disintegration by evaporation escape of high velocity constituents. The corresponding region of parameter space is then populated preferentially.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Concerning the preferred surface density of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy 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 Concerning the preferred surface density of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Concerning the preferred surface density of giant molecular clouds in the Galaxy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1884131