The Super-Alfvénic Model of Molecular Clouds: Predictions for Zeeman Splitting Measurements

Details The Super-Alfvénic Model of Molecular Clouds: Predictions for Zeeman Splitting Measurements The Super-Alfvénic Model of Molecular Clouds: Predictions for Zeeman Splitting Measurements

2008-06-24

arxiv.org/abs/0806.3854v2

Astrophysical Journal Letters 686 (2008) L91-L94

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

4 pages, 6 figures, submitted to ApJL. Minor corrections and additions, updated references

Scientific paper

10.1086/593032

We present synthetic OH Zeeman splitting measurements of a super-Alfvenic model of molecular clouds. We select dense cores from synthetic 13CO maps computed from the largest simulation to date of supersonic and super-Alfvenic turbulence. The synthetic Zeeman splitting measurements in the cores yield a relation between the magnetic field strength, B, and the column density, N, in good agreement with the observations. The large scatter in B at a fixed value of N is partly due to intrinsic variations in the magnetic field strength from core to core. We also compute the relative mass-to-flux ratio between the center of the cores and their envelopes, ${\cal R}_{\mu}$, and show that super-Alfvenic turbulence produces a significant scatter also in ${\cal R}_{\mu}$, including negative values (field reversal between core center and envelope). We find ${\cal R}_{\mu}<1$ for 70% of the cores, and ${\cal R}_{\mu}<0$ for 12%. Of the cores with $|B_{\rm LOS}|>10$ \muG, 81% have ${\cal R}_{\mu}<1$. These predictions of the super-Alfvenic model are in stark contrast to the ambipolar drift model of core formation, where only ${\cal R}_{\mu}>1$ is allowed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Super-Alfvénic Model of Molecular Clouds: Predictions for Zeeman Splitting Measurements 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 The Super-Alfvénic Model of Molecular Clouds: Predictions for Zeeman Splitting Measurements, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Super-Alfvénic Model of Molecular Clouds: Predictions for Zeeman Splitting Measurements will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-97458