Other
Scientific paper
Jan 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994apj...420..692m&link_type=abstract
The Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 420, no. 2, p. 692-704
Other
27
Angular Momentum, Molecular Clouds, Star Formation, Vorticity, Cooling, Density Distribution, Equations Of Motion, Isotherms, Velocity Distribution
Scientific paper
We examine the collapse of overdense ellipsoidal regions with constant angular momentum, but different vorticities, and therefore different shear. We consider both isothermal collapse, for which the circulation is invariant, and collapses with molecular cooling when the invariance of the circulation cannot be guaranteed. Provided the initial velocity field is not close to rigid rotation, the ellipsoids collapse to extended filamentary structures which subsequently fragment. We propose this mechanism as the natural explanation of the wide-spread extended structures in star-forming regions. There are clear differences between the fragmentation of identical ellipsoids with the same angular momentum and different vorticities. In particular, initial rigid rotation leads to a tight inner winding of the filament without fragmentation after 1.5 free-fall times, while other initial velocity fields produce nearly straight filaments which fragment in approximate agreement with the theory of the fragmentation of infinite isothermal cylinders.
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