The Approach to Collapse of Molecular Clouds

Details The Approach to Collapse of Molecular Clouds The Approach to Collapse of Molecular Clouds

2009-03-11

arxiv.org/abs/0903.1926v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2009.14737.x

The dense molecular cloud cores that form stars, like other self-gravitating objects, undergo bulk oscillations. Just at the point of gravitational instability, their fundamental oscillation mode has zero frequency. We study, using perturbation theory, the evolution of a spherical cloud that possesses such a frozen mode. We find that the cloud undergoes a prolonged epoch of subsonic, accelerating contraction. This slow contraction occurs whether the cloud is initially inflated or compressed by the oscillation. The subsonic motion described here could underlie the spectral infall signature observed in many starless dense cores.

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