Equilibria of rotating isothermal clouds

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165332· OSTI ID:6085799

Kiguchi, M; Narita, S; Miyama, S M; Hayashi, C

The effect of rotation on the equilibrium structure of an axisymmetric isothermal gas cloud embedded in a stationary external medium is investigated by means of numerical simulations. The underlying assumptions, basic equations, input parameters, and numerical approach are explained, and the results are presented in extensive tables and graphs and characterized in detail. The critical central density and rotation energy, beyond which clouds become unstable to global contraction/expansion and ring formation, respectively, are found to be 800 times the boundary-surface density (BSD) and 0.44 times the gravitational energy. Stable rotating clouds are shown to have maximum mass 31 times that of nonrotating clouds, maximum mean rotation velocity 2.7 times the sound speed, and maximum mean density 6 times BSD. An expression for the maximum height of the boundary surface above the equatorial plane is derived. 41 references.

• Research Organization: Kinki Univ., Osaka, Japan; Doshisha Univ., Kyoto, Japan; Kyoto Univ., Japan
• OSTI ID: 6085799
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 317; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ANGULAR VELOCITY
COSMIC GASES
DENSITY
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
ISOTHERMAL PROCESSES
MASS
MATHEMATICS
MOLECULES
MOTION
NEBULAE
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
ROTATION
SIMULATION
SPACE
STABILITY
VELOCITY