Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Dec 1984
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984apj...287..200h&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 287, Dec. 1, 1984, p. 200-207. Sponsorship: Natural Sciences and Engineerin
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
79
Interstellar Matter, Molecular Clouds, Stellar Evolution, Turbulence Effects, Angular Momentum, Astrophysics, Planetary Nebulae, Protostars, Scaling Laws
Scientific paper
For the ensemble of galactic molecular clouds, Larson (1984) and Myers (1983) have shown that a power law v(l) proportional to ln relates internal velocity dispersions t(l) and cloud sizes l. This relation is interpreted in terms of the Kolmogorov law (n = 1/3) for incompressible turbulence, although n = 1/2 more nearly describes the data. It is argued that Kolmogorov incompressible turbulence is inapplicable in molecular clouds because of the importance of gravitational collapse. The ensemble of clouds is analyzed as elements in a self-similar regime of compressible turbulence, in particular, of gravitationally driven angular-momentum-limited turbulence. Scaling laws for this star-cloud turbulence (SCT) are derived, which not only incorporate virial balance, but also the power law with n=1/2, in agreement with the data. Several predictions are made about the time dependence of the initial stellar-mass function, which are consistent with observation but were hitherto enigmatic. Detailed justification of the simple scaling laws for SCT are derived in terms of the full fluid equations for a self-gravitating magnetogasdynamic continuum.
Henriksen Richard N.
Turner Barry E.
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