Cooling Rates of Molecular Clouds Based on Numerical MHD Turbulence and non-LTE Radiative Transfer

Details Cooling Rates of Molecular Clouds Based on Numerical MHD Turbulence and non-LTE Radiative Transfer Cooling Rates of Molecular Clouds Based on Numerical MHD Turbulence and non-LTE Radiative Transfer

2001-04-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0104280v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

AASTeX, 19 pages, 15 figures; final, revised version; accepted to ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/323952

We have computed line emission cooling rates for the main cooling species in models of interstellar molecular clouds. The models are based on numerical simulations of super-sonic magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence. Non-LTE radiative transfer calculations have been performed to properly account for the complex density and velocity structures in the MHD simulations. Three models are used. Two of the models are based on MHD simulations with different magnetic field strength and the third includes the computation of self-gravity (in the super-Alfvenic regime of turbulence). The density and velocity fields in the simulations are determined self-consistently by the dynamics of super-sonic turbulence. The models are intended to represent molecular clouds with linear size L~6 pc and mean density ~300 cm^-3, with the density exceeding 10^4 cm^-3 in the densest cores. We present 12CO, 13CO, C18O, O2, OI, CI and H2O cooling rates in isothermal clouds with kinetic temperatures 10-80K. Analytical approximations are derived for the cooling rates. The inhomogeneity of the models reduces photon trapping and enhances the cooling in the densest parts of the clouds. Compared with earlier models the cooling rates are less affected by optical depth effects and are therefore higher. The main effects comes, however, from the density variation since cooling efficiency increases with density. This is very important for the cooling of the clouds as a whole since most cooling is provided by gas with density above the average.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Cooling Rates of Molecular Clouds Based on Numerical MHD Turbulence and non-LTE Radiative Transfer 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 Cooling Rates of Molecular Clouds Based on Numerical MHD Turbulence and non-LTE Radiative Transfer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cooling Rates of Molecular Clouds Based on Numerical MHD Turbulence and non-LTE Radiative Transfer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-483920