Fragmentation of magnetically-supported, weakly-ionized molecular clouds

Christie, Duncan A.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/24373 Copy

Description

Title

Fragmentation of magnetically-supported, weakly-ionized molecular clouds

Author(s)

Christie, Duncan A.

Issue Date

2011-05-25T14:40:21Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Mouschovias, T. Ch.

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Stack, John D.

Committee Member(s)

• Mouschovias, T. Ch.
• Wandelt, Benjamin D.
• Looney, Leslie W.

Department of Study

Physics

Discipline

Physics

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• molecular clouds
• magnetic fields
• ambipolar diffusion
• star formation

Abstract

We follow the evolution and fragmentation of isolated, magnetically-supported, weakly- ionized, self-gravitating molecular clouds in three dimensions. Although the model clouds are supported by the magnetic field, high-density, magnetically-supercritical fragments form due to the drift between the ions and the neutrals, ambipolar diffusion. To follow the evolution of the model clouds, we extended the publicly-available Zeus-MP code to include the effects of nonideal magnetohydrodynamics and have modified several algo- rithms to improve accuracy and convergence. We present the results of a parameter study which varies the ionization fraction, mass-to-flux ratio, and velocity perturbation in the model clouds.

Graduation Semester

2011-05

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24373

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2011 Duncan A. Christie

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