1. Star Formation and the Initial Mass Function
- Author
-
Paolo Padoan and Aake Nordlund
- Subjects
Physics ,Magnetic energy ,K-epsilon turbulence model ,Turbulence ,Star formation ,Astrophysics::High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena ,Astrophysics ,Kinetic energy ,Physics::Fluid Dynamics ,Interstellar medium ,Physics::Space Physics ,Turbulence kinetic energy ,Radiative transfer ,Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics - Abstract
Supersonic turbulence fragments the interstellar medium into dense sheets, filaments, cores and large low-density voids, thanks to a complex network of highly radiative shocks. The turbulence is driven on large scales, predominantly by supernovae. While on scales of the order of the galactic disk thickness the magnetic energy is in approximate equipartition with the kinetic energy of the turbulence, on scales of a few pc the turbulent kinetic energy significantly exceeds the magnetic energy.
- Published
- 2007
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