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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Turbulence and the stability of molecular clouds

Molecular clouds may be stabilized against gravitational collapse by the turbulent velocity field within them. It is suggested that the energy derived from differential galactic rotation can maintain the turbulent flow in the interstellar medium. The characteristic decay time for interstellar turbulence is found to be about 10-billion years. The rate and efficiency of star formation in giant molecular clouds reflect the stochastic nature of turbulence.

Fleck, R. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Equiparatition of energy for turbulent astrophysical fluids: Accounting for the unseen energy in molecular clouds

Molecular clouds are observed to be partially supported by turbulent pressure. The kinetic energy of the turbulence is directly measurable, but the potential energy, which consists of magnetic, thermal, and gravitational potential energy, is largly unseen. We have extended previous results on equipartition between kinetic and potential energy to show that it is likely to be a very good approximation in molecular clouds. We have used two separate approaches to demonstrate this result: For small-amplitude perturbations of a static equilibrium, we have used the energy principle analysis of Bernstein et al. (1958); this derivation applies to perturbations of arbitary wavelength. To treat perturbations of a nonstatic equilibrium, we have used the Lagrangian analysis of Dewar (1970); this analysis applies only to short-wavelength perturbations. Both analysis assume conservation of energy. Wave damping has only a small effect on equipartition if the wave frequency is small compared to the neutral-ion collision frequency; for the particular case we considered, radiative losses have no effect on equipartition. These results are then incorporated in a simple way into analyses of cloud equilibrium and global stability. We discuss the effect of Alfvenic turbulence on the Jeans mass and show that it has little effect on the magnetic critical mass.

Zweibel, Ellen G.↗
DOE OSTI2016

GRAVITATIONAL CONTRACTION VERSUS SUPERNOVA DRIVING AND THE ORIGIN OF THE VELOCITY DISPERSION–SIZE RELATION IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS

Molecular cloud (MC) observations show that clouds have non-thermal velocity dispersions that scale with the cloud size as σ ∝ R {sup 1/2} at a constant surface density, and for varying surface density scale with both the cloud’s size and surface density, σ {sup 2} ∝ R Σ. The energy source driving these chaotic motions remains poorly understood. We describe the velocity dispersions observed in a cloud population formed in a numerical simulation of a magnetized, stratified, supernova (SN)-driven, interstellar medium, including diffuse heating and radiative cooling, before and after we include the effects of the self-gravity of the gas. We compare the relationships between velocity dispersion, size, and surface density measured in the simulated cloud population to those found in observations of Galactic MCs. Our simulations prior to the onset of self-gravity suggest that external SN explosions alone do not drive turbulent motions of the observed magnitudes within dense clouds. On the other hand, self-gravity induces non-thermal motions as gravitationally bound clouds begin to collapse in our model, approaching the observed relations between velocity dispersion, size, and surface density. Energy conservation suggests that the observed behavior is consistent with the kinetic energy being proportional to the gravitational energy. However, the clouds in our model show no sign of reaching a stable equilibrium state at any time, even for strongly magnetized clouds. We conclude that gravitationally bound MCs are always in a state of gravitational contraction and their properties are a natural result of this chaotic collapse. In order to agree with observed star formation efficiencies, this process must be terminated by the early destruction of the clouds, presumably from internal stellar feedback.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Wide-field {sup 12}CO (J=2--1) and {sup 13}CO (J=2--1) Observations toward the Aquila Rift and Serpens Molecular Cloud Complexes. I. Molecular Clouds and Their Physical Properties

We present the results of wide-field {sup 12}CO (J=2--1) and {sup 13}CO (J=2--1) observations toward the Aquila Rift and Serpens molecular cloud complexes (25{sup ∘}<l<33{sup ∘} and 1{sup ∘}<b<6{sup ∘}) at an angular resolution of 3.′4 (≈0.25 pc) and at a velocity resolution of 0.079 km s{sup −1} with velocity coverage of −5 km s{sup −1}<V{sub LSR}<35 km s{sup −1}. We found that the {sup 13}CO emission better traces the structures seen in the extinction map, and derived the X{sub {sup 1}{sup 3}CO}-factor of this region. Applying SCIMES to the {sup 13}CO data cube, we identified 61 clouds and derived their mass, radii, and line widths. The line width–radius relation of the identified clouds basically follows those of nearby molecular clouds. The majority of the identified clouds are close to virial equilibrium, although the dispersion is large. By inspecting the {sup 12}CO channel maps by eye, we found several arcs that are spatially extended to 0.°2–3° in length. In the longitude–velocity diagrams of {sup 12}CO, we also found two spatially extended components that appear to converge toward Serpens South and the W40 region. The existence of two components with different velocities and arcs suggests that large-scale expanding bubbles and/or flows play a role in the formation and evolution of the Serpens South and W40 cloud.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1987

Thermal instabilities in diffuse molecular clouds - Formation of molecular cloud cores

The stability of diffuse clouds to thermal instabilities is examined using the semiempirical cooling function derived by Tarafdar et al. (1985) for these clouds. It is found that diffuse clouds which obey such a cooling function are susceptible to thermal instability at densities n of less than about 70-80/cu cm. The growth rate for instability is large and the mass contained in unstable regions ranges from about 0.001 to 1 solar mass. It is suggested that such instabilities may trigger formation of molecular cloud cores of the type found in low-mass molecular clouds (e.g., TMC-2). Criteria for thermal instability in self-gravitating systems are also derived.

Graziani, Frank R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The energetics of molecular clouds. IV - The S88 molecular cloud

The S88 molecular cloud has been observed in several molecular lines and at infrared wavelengths from 1 to 100 microns. The CO emission has a single, sharp peak which is near the H-alpha emission region S88 B and centered on a compact H II region observed in the radio continuum. The infrared observations indicate that the principal luminosity source is located near the radio continuum peak and is hidden behind substantial extinction, presumably from the molecular cloud. The molecular cloud has a size of about 6.5 pc and a mass of about 5,000 solar masses at an assumed distance of 2 kpc. Regions of very high density (more than 10,000/cu cm) do not seem to be present. Analysis of the energetics leads to a predicted dust cooling rate in good agreement with the infrared observations, which indicate L = 180,000 solar luminosities. A more detailed examination of the energetics indicates that densities may be insufficient for collisions of molecules with warm dust grains to heat the gas to the observed kinetic temperature.

Evans, N. J., II↗
DOE OSTI2015

A deep near-infrared survey toward the aquila molecular cloud. I. Molecular hydrogen outflows

We have performed an unbiased, deep near-infrared survey toward the Aquila molecular cloud with a sky coverage of ∼1 deg{sup 2}. We identified 45 molecular hydrogen emission-line objects (MHOs), of which only 11 were previously known. Using the Spitzer archival data, we also identified 802 young stellar objects (YSOs) in this region. Based on the morphology and the location of MHOs and YSO candidates, we associate 43 MHOs with 40 YSO candidates. The distribution of jet length shows an exponential decrease in the number of outflows with increasing length, and the molecular hydrogen outflows seem to be oriented randomly. Moreover, there is no obvious correlation between jet lengths, jet opening angles, or jet H{sub 2}1−0S(1) luminosities and the spectral indices of the possible driving sources in this region. We also suggest that molecular hydrogen outflows in the Aquila molecular cloud are rather weak sources of turbulence, unlikely to generate the observed velocity dispersion in the region of survey.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1981

The energetics of molecular clouds. III - The S235 molecular cloud

The molecular cloud associated with the S235 H II region has been studied by means of molecular lines and near-infrared observations. The cloud consists of two components, one of which partly surrounds the S235 H II region. The other component contains a dense, hot region of active star formation, marked by self-reversed CO profiles, compact H II regions, masers, and infrared sources. From the molecular line data, the size and mass of the two components are estimated to be 6-8 pc and 3000-4000 solar masses. More detailed studies near the region of active star formation yield estimates of density (approximately 200,000-500,000/cu cm) and the abundances of H2CO, HCO(+), HCN, and (C-13)O. Analysis of the energetics suggests that the cloud is heated by the exciting star of S235 and by the exciting stars of the compact H II regions. Assuming that the gas is heated by collisions with warm dust grains, the far-infrared luminosity has been predicted. The observations of far-infrared emission are in reasonable agreement with predictions.

Evans, N. J., II↗
NASA NTRS1982

The energetics of molecular clouds. V - The S37 molecular cloud

The molecular clouds of S37, which coincides with a region of visual obscuration, is observed at several molecular transition frequencies and at IR wavelengths in the 2-125 micron range. It is found that the temperature and the column density peak near the reflection nebulae vdB 118 and 119, with line splitting and possible self-absorption being observed near the latter. Although many 2-micron sources are observed in the direction of the cloud, no bright, 10-micron sources are seen, and far-IR emission is found over an extensive region in the cloud. An energetics analysis leads to the prediction of a dust cooling rate consistent with the far-IR observations, which indicate not less than 15,000-35,000 solar luminosities, and more detailed energetics examinations show that the conditions necessary for collision heating of the gas by warm dust exist.

Evans, N. J., II↗
NASA NTRS1978

The energetics of molecular clouds. II - The S140 molecular cloud

Techniques of analysis which allow estimates of kinetic temperature, gas density, gas cooling rate, and dust cooling rate are applied to the S140 molecular cloud. Maps of this cloud in various molecular lines are examined which reveal the existence of a strong temperature and density peak near the H-alpha rim and the presence of a strong near-IR source very near that peak. This source is found to have an energy distribution which is very similar to that of the Becklin-Neugebauer object, including the silicate feature at 9.5 microns. The heating and cooling rates for the gas and dust in S140 are estimated, and the predicted cooling rate for dust is shown to be much greater than that for gas. The molecular-line observations are compared with a spherical large-velocity-gradient trapping calculation. An optimum cloud model is developed which indicates that: (1) (C-13)O, HCO(+), and H2CO are about 10 times less abundant in S140 than in dark clouds; (2) the HCN abundance is approximately 4 times the H2CO abundance in S140, compared with roughly equal values in dark clouds; and (3) the (C-13)O/C(O-18) ratio is consistent with terrestrial isotope ratios.

Blair, G. N.↗
DOE OSTI2015

TURBULENCE DECAY AND CLOUD CORE RELAXATION IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS

The turbulent motion within molecular clouds is a key factor controlling star formation. Turbulence supports molecular cloud cores from evolving to gravitational collapse and hence sets a lower bound on the size of molecular cloud cores in which star formation can occur. On the other hand, without a continuous external energy source maintaining the turbulence, such as in molecular clouds, the turbulence decays with an energy dissipation time comparable to the dynamic timescale of clouds, which could change the size limits obtained from Jean's criterion by assuming constant turbulence intensities. Here we adopt scaling relations of physical variables in decaying turbulence to analyze its specific effects on the formation of stars. We find that the decay of turbulence provides an additional approach for Jeans' criterion to be achieved, after which gravitational infall governs the motion of the cloud core. This epoch of turbulence decay is defined as cloud core relaxation. The existence of cloud core relaxation provides a more complete understanding of the effect of the competition between turbulence and gravity on the dynamics of molecular cloud cores and star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1977

The energetics of molecular clouds. I - Methods of analysis and application to the S255 molecular cloud

Observations of the S255 molecular cloud in the radio lines of CO, (C-13)O, and H2O as well as in the IR region from 12 to 20 microns are presented. These results show that an extended molecular cloud is associated with the optically visible H II regions S255 - S257, both the kinetic temperature and molecular density are enhanced in an area centered on a compact near-IR source, this source is also coincident with an OH and an H2O maser (within the errors), and the IR source exhibits the silicon absorption feature. First-order techniques which allow physical properties of molecular clouds to be estimated and the energetics of the gas and dust in the clouds to be analyzed are developed and applied to S255. It is concluded that: (1) the gas cooling rate is much less than the dust cooling rate; (2) the primary energy flow is in the IR through dust emission over a range of temperatures; (3) the near-IR source is apparently responsible for the local peak in gas kinetic temperature; and (4) the exciting stars of nearby H II regions appear to be the primary heat sources for the overall molecular cloud.

Evans, N. J., II↗
NASA NTRS1981

Far-infrared observations of the Cepheus OB3 molecular cloud

The molecular cloud accompanying the Cepheus OB3 association is observed in the infrared at wavelengths of 10-400 microns. Far-infrared emission at 55 microns and 125 microns from the two CO hot spots, Cep A and Cep B, is mapped with a resolution of approximately one arcmin. Cep A is also mapped at 400 microns with a resolution of approximately one arcmin, and both hot spots are searched for 20-micron sources. It is noted that the Cep A hot spot appears to be heated by energy sources internal to the molecular cloud. The dust temperatures are considered sufficient to explain the gas temperatures provided the dust heats the gas by collisions. In marked contrast, the Cep B region appears to be heated from outside the cloud, with the strongest far-infrared emission arising near the interface between the molecular cloud and the S155 H II region. It is thought that the gas heating rate through collisions with dust may be insufficient to achieve the gas temperature observed in Cep B.

Evans, N. J., II↗
NASA NTRS1992

Warm neutral halos around molecular clouds. IV - H I and continuum: Aperture synthesis observations towards the molecular cloud B5

We present aperture synthesis observations of H I (21 cm) line radiation and continuum emission at 408 and 1420 MHz towards a field centered on the molecular cloud B5. The H I emission shows an extended atomic halo around the molecular cloud. The opacity of the halo is derived using H I absorption toward several background sources and a simple source model is presented. The model indicates that the halo is not gravitationally bound to the molecular cloud and that it is in fact expanding away from it. Approximately 350 solar masses are contained in the H I halo. Flux densities and spectral indices for the sources detected in both of the continuum bands are given.

Andersson, B.-G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Electron densities and the excitation of CN in molecular clouds

In molecular clouds of modest density and relatively high fractional ionization, the rotational excitation of CN is controlled by a competition among electron impact, neutral impact and the interaction with the cosmic background radiation. The degree of excitation can be measured through optical absorption lines and millimeter-wave emission lines. The available, accurate data on CN in diffuse and translucent molecular clouds are assembled and used to determine electron densities. The derived values, n(e) = roughly 0.02 - 0.5/cu cm, imply modest neutral densities, which generally agree well with determinations by other techniques. The absorption- and emission-line measurements of CN both exclude densities higher than n(H2) = roughly 10 exp 3.5/cu cm on scales varying from 0.001 to 60 arcsec in these clouds.

Black, John H.↗
DOE OSTI2019

Magnetized interstellar molecular clouds – II. The large-scale structure and dynamics of filamentary molecular clouds

Abstract We perform ideal magnetohydrodynamics high-resolution adaptive mesh refinement simulations with driven turbulence and self-gravity and find that long filamentary molecular clouds are formed at the converging locations of large-scale turbulence flows and the filaments are bounded by gravity. The magnetic field helps shape and reinforce the long filamentary structures. The main filamentary cloud has a length of ∼4.4 pc. Instead of a monolithic cylindrical structure, the main cloud is shown to be a collection of fibre/web-like substructures similar to filamentary clouds such as L1495. Unless the line-of-sight is close to the mean field direction, the large-scale magnetic field and striations in the simulation are found roughly perpendicular to the long axis of the main cloud, similar to L1495. This provides strong support for a large-scale moderately strong magnetic field surrounding L1495. We find that the projection effect from observations can lead to incorrect interpretations of the true three-dimensional physical shape, size, and velocity structure of the clouds. Helical magnetic field structures found around filamentary clouds that are interpreted from Zeeman observations can be explained by a simple bending of the magnetic field that pierces through the cloud. We demonstrate that two dark clouds form a T-shaped configuration that is strikingly similar to the infrared dark cloud SDC13, leading to the interpretation that SDC13 results from a collision of two long filamentary clouds. We show that a moderately strong magnetic field (${{\cal M}_{\rm A}}\sim 1$) is crucial for maintaining a long and slender filamentary cloud for a long period of time ∼0.5 Myr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1990

Gamma rays from giant molecular clouds

Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs) are massive, bounded, cool, dense regions containing mostly H2, but also H I, CO, and other molecules. These clouds occupy less than 1 percent of the galactic volume, but are a substantial part of the interstellar mass. They are irradiated by the high energy cosmic rays which are possibly modulated by the matter and magnetic fields within the clouds. The product of cosmic-ray flux and matter density is traced by the emission of high energy gamma-rays. A spherical cloud model is considered and the gamma ray flux from several GMCs within 1 kpc of the sun which should be detectable by the EGRET (Energetic Gamma-Ray Experimental Telescope) instrument on GRO (Gamma Ray Observatory).

Hunter, Stanley D.↗