Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jul 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982apj...258l..29s&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters to the Editor, vol. 258, July 1, 1982, p. L29-L33. Research supported by the Alfred P. S
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
94
Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds, Particle Interactions, Supersonic Flow, Turbulent Flow, Globular Clusters, Gravitational Effects, Hydrodynamics, Kinetic Energy, Late Stars, Many Body Problem, Potential Energy
Scientific paper
The dissipation of supersonic turbulent motions in interstellar clouds is reconsidered using N-body simulations of systems of interacting gas fragments. The adopted collision rules are based on recent hydrodynamical studies of cloud collisions. It is shown that the preponderance of oblique collisions which dissipate relatively little kinetic energy results in a dissipation time scale which exceeds the geometrical collision time scale by a factor of about 20 or more. The process of turbulent virialization, whereby cloud gravitational potential energy is converted into random internal motions, leading to a slow cloud contraction controlled by the turbulent dissipation rate is also discussed. The cloud lifetime can be extended significantly beyond the free-fall time by this process, without the need for any additional source of turbulent energy. This result also suggests an explanation for the apparently large age difference between globular clusters and the oldest disk stars.
Pumphrey W. A.
Scalo John M.
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