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Formation of structure in molecular clouds: a case study

Abstract:
Molecular clouds (MCs) are highly structured and turbulent. Colliding gas streams of atomic hydrogen have been suggested as a possible source of MCs, imprinting the filamentary structure as a consequence of dynamical and thermal instabilities. We present a 2D numerical analysis of MC formation via converging HI flows. Even with modest flow speeds and completely uniform inflows, non-linear density perturbations as possible precursors of MCs arise. Thus, we suggest that MCs are inevitably formed with substantial structure, e.g., strong density and velocity fluctuations, which provide the initial conditions for subsequent gravitational collapse and star formation in a variety of galactic and extragalactic environments.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1086/498413

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Astrophysics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Astrophysics
Role:
Author


Publisher:
American Astronomical Society
Journal:
Astrophysical Journal Letters More from this journal
Volume:
633
Issue:
2
Pages:
L113–L116
Publication date:
2005-10-26
Acceptance date:
2005-09-29
DOI:
EISSN:
2041-8213
ISSN:
2041-8205


Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:205767
UUID:
uuid:cbf429fe-05e4-48cb-a574-001ce23a380a
Local pid:
pubs:205767
Source identifiers:
205767
Deposit date:
2012-12-19

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