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arXiv 1306.5714astro-ph.GA
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关于柱密度阈值和恒星形成率

On column density thresholds and the star formation rate

Paul C. Clark, Simon C. O. Glover

摘要:

我们提出了一个数值研究的结果,旨在解决的问题,是否有一个列密度阈值内的分子云恒星形成。我们已经模拟了大量不同的云,体积和柱密度跨越范围广泛的不同值,使用最先进的模型耦合的气体的化学,热和动力学演化。我们发现,恒星形成是唯一可能的区域中的平均(面积平均)列密度超过$10^{21} \: {\rm cm^{-2}}$。在云内,我们还表明,有一个很好的相关性的气体质量以上的K波段消光$A_{\rm K} = 0.8$和恒星形成率(SFR),与最近的观测工作。以前,这种关系已被解释的SFR和致密气体中的质量之间的相关性。然而,我们发现,这种相关性是较弱的,更依赖于时间比之间的SFR和列密度。在支持以前的研究中,我们认为,灰尘屏蔽是关键的过程:真正的相关性是一个之间的SFR和质量冷,良好的屏蔽气体,后者相关性更好的柱密度比体积密度。

英文摘要:

We present the results of a numerical study designed to address the question of whether there is a column density threshold for star formation within molecular clouds. We have simulated a large number of different clouds, with volume and column densities spanning a wide range of different values, using a state-of-the-art model for the coupled chemical, thermal and dynamical evolution of the gas. We show that star formation is only possible in regions where the mean (area-averaged) column density exceeds $10^{21} \: {\rm cm^{-2}}$. Within the clouds, we also show that there is a good correlation between the mass of gas above a K-band extinction $A_{\rm K} = 0.8$ and the star formation rate (SFR), in agreement with recent observational work. Previously, this relationship has been explained in terms of a correlation between the SFR and the mass in dense gas. However, we find that this correlation is weaker and more time-dependent than that between the SFR and the column density. In support of previous studies, we argue that dust shielding is the key process: the true correlation is one between the SFR and the mass in cold, well-shielded gas, and the latter correlates better with the column density than the volume density.

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