Origin and lifetime of giant molecular cloud complexes

Journal Article · Thu May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/157968· OSTI ID:5126786

Blitz, L; Shu, F H

From the available observational and theoretical evidence we argue that the mass of molecular gas in the Galaxy has been considerably overestimated and that the ages of the giant molecular complexes do not exceed a few times 10/sup 7/ years. We derive an expression for the collisional time scale for clumps in a complex and show that it has a maximum value of 1 x 10/sup 7/ yr. We argue that the formation of giant complexes by random collisional agglomeration of small molecular clouds is incompatible with several firm observational results. We discuss the Parker instability as a possible formation mechanism which can explain many of the observed properties of the complexes.

• Research Organization: Radio Astronomy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 5126786
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 238:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GALAXIES
GASES
H2 REGIONS
HYDROGEN
INSTABILITY
MILKY WAY
MOLECULES
NEBULAE
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STAR ACCRETION
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR EVOLUTION