Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Mar 1981
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981mnras.194..809l&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 194, Mar. 1981, p. 809-826.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
1238
Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds, Protostars, Star Formation, Turbulence Effects, Clumps, Density Distribution, Stellar Gravitation, Stellar Mass, Velocity Distribution, Virial Theorem
Scientific paper
Consideration is given to the turbulence properties of molecular clouds and their implications for star formation. Data for 54 molecular clouds and condensations is presented which reveals cloud velocity dispersion and region size to follow a power-law relation, similar to the Kolmogoroff law for subsonic turbulence. Examination of the dynamics of the molecular clouds for which mass determinations are available reveals essentially all of them to be gravitationally bound, and to approximately satisfy the virial theorem. The observation of moderate scatter in the dispersion-size relation is noted to imply that most regions have not collapsed much since formation, suggesting that processes of turbulent hydrodynamics have played an important role in producing the observed substructures. A lower limit to the size of subcondensations at which their internal motions are no longer supersonic is shown to predict a minimum protostellar mass on the order of a few tenths of a solar mass, while massive protostellar clumps are found to develop complex internal structures, probably leading to the formation of prestellar condensation nuclei. The observed turbulence of molecular clouds is noted to imply lifetimes of less than 10 million years.
No associations
LandOfFree
Turbulence and star formation in 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 Turbulence and star formation in molecular clouds, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Turbulence and star formation in molecular clouds will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1038625