Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Mar 1988
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1988mnras.231..515m&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (ISSN 0035-8711), vol. 231, March 15, 1988, p. 515-534.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
28
Astrodynamics, Gas Dynamics, Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds, Three Dimensional Motion, Chaos, Clumps, Evolution (Development), Gravitational Effects, Hydrogen Clouds, Supersonic Speed
Scientific paper
The authors describe the numerical simulation of the evolution of a large cloud complex of 1.5×105M_sun; consisting initially of 48 clouds of equal mass moving with random supersonic velocities. They allow for arbitrary three-dimensional motion with self-gravity and with heating and cooling mechanisms which are appropriate to the interstellar medium. Sequences with initial chaotic motion and with associated kinetic energies which are near the virial energy have been examined. The results show that, provided the energy in chaotic motion is below the virial value, a large fraction of the matter will form clumps. Many of the clumps are rotating rapidly and form extended disc systems. The number of clumps formed is small and the free-fall time of the clumps is much less than that of the complex. The authors therefore expect star formation to occur before the initial clumps collide. They infer that once a giant cloud complex is made, its collapse is inexorable, and its fate is to be disrupted by star formation which, through winds, H II regions or supernovae, can disperse most of the gas which is not in stars.
Monaghan Joseph J.
Varnas S. R.
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