arXiv subjects

Benjamin Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin Wu.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

GMC Collisions as Triggers of Star Formation. V. Observational Signatures

We present calculations of molecular, atomic and ionic line emission from simulations of giant molecular cloud (GMC) collisions. We post-process snapshots of the magneto-hydrodynamical simulations presented in an earlier paper in this series by Wu et al. (2017) of colliding and non-colliding GMCs. Using photodissociation region (PDR) chemistry and radiative transfer we calculate the level populations and emission properties of $^{12}$CO $J=1-0$, [CI] $^3{\rm P}_1\rightarrow{^3{\rm P}}_0$ at $609\,μ$m, [CII] $158\,μ$m and [OI] $^3{\rm P}_1\rightarrow{^3{\rm P}}_0$ transition at $63\,μ$m. From integrated intensity emission maps and position-velocity diagrams, we find that fine-structure lines, particularly the [CII] $158\,μ$m, can be used as a diagnostic tracer for cloud-cloud collision activity. These results hold even in more evolved systems in which the collision signature in molecular lines has been diminished.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

GMC Collisions As Triggers of Star Formation. IV. The Role of Ambipolar Diffusion

We investigate the role of ambipolar diffusion (AD) in collisions between magnetized giant molecular clouds (GMCs), which may be an important mechanism for triggering star cluster formation. Three dimensional simulations of GMC collisions are performed using a version of the Enzo magnetohydrodynamics code that has been extended to include AD. The resistivities are calculated using the 31-species chemical model of Wu et al. (2015). We find that in the weak-field, $10\:{\rm μG}$ case, AD has only a modest effect on the dynamical evolution during the collision. However, for the stronger-field, $30\:{\rm μG}$ case involving near-critical clouds, AD results in formation of dense cores in regions where collapse is otherwise inhibited. The overall efficiency of formation of cores with $n_{\rm H}\geq10^{6}\:{\rm cm}^{-3}$ in these simulations is increases from about 0.2% to 2% once AD is included, comparable to observed values in star-forming GMCs. The gas around these cores typically has relatively slow infall at speeds that are a modest fraction of the free-fall speed.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2017

GMC Collisions as Triggers of Star Formation. III. Density and Magnetically Regulated Star Formation

We study giant molecular cloud (GMC) collisions and their ability to trigger star cluster formation. We further develop our three dimensional magnetized, turbulent, colliding GMC simulations by implementing star formation sub-grid models. Two such models are explored: (1) "Density-Regulated," i.e., fixed efficiency per free-fall time above a set density threshold; (2) "Magnetically-Regulated," i.e., fixed efficiency per free-fall time in regions that are magnetically supercritical. Variations of parameters associated with these models are also explored. In the non-colliding simulations, the overall level of star formation is sensitive to model parameter choices that relate to effective density thresholds. In the GMC collision simulations, the final star formation rates and efficiencies are relatively independent of these parameters. Between non-colliding and colliding cases, we compare the morphologies of the resulting star clusters, properties of star-forming gas, time evolution of the star formation rate (SFR), spatial clustering of the stars, and resulting kinematics of the stars in comparison to the natal gas. We find that typical collisions, by creating larger amounts of dense gas, trigger earlier and enhanced star formation, resulting in 10 times higher SFRs and efficiencies. The star clusters formed from GMC collisions show greater spatial sub-structure and more disturbed kinematics.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2016

GMC Collisions as Triggers of Star Formation. II. 3D Turbulent, Magnetized Simulations

We investigate giant molecular cloud (GMCs) collisions and their ability to induce gravitational instability and thus star formation. This mechanism may be a major driver of star formation activity in galactic disks. We carry out a series of three dimensional, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) simulations to study how cloud collisions trigger formation of dense filaments and clumps. Heating and cooling functions are implemented based on photo-dissociation region (PDR) models that span the atomic to molecular transition and can return detailed diagnostic information. The clouds are initialized with supersonic turbulence and a range of magnetic field strengths and orientations. Collisions at various velocities and impact parameters are investigated. Comparing and contrasting colliding and non-colliding cases, we characterize morphologies of dense gas, magnetic field structure, cloud kinematic signatures, and cloud dynamics. We present key observational diagnostics of cloud collisions, especially: relative orientations between magnetic fields and density structures, like filaments; $^{13}$CO($J$=2-1), $^{13}$CO($J$=3-2), and $^{12}$CO($J$=8-7) integrated intensity maps and spectra; and cloud virial parameters. We compare these results to observed Galactic clouds.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

GMC Collisions as Triggers of Star Formation. I. Parameter Space Exploration with 2D Simulations

We utilize magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to develop a numerical model for GMC-GMC collisions between nearly magnetically critical clouds. The goal is to determine if, and under what circumstances, cloud collisions can cause pre-existing magnetically subcritical clumps to become supercritical and undergo gravitational collapse. We first develop and implement new photodissociation region (PDR) based heating and cooling functions that span the atomic to molecular transition, creating a multiphase ISM and allowing modeling of non-equilibrium temperature structures. Then in 2D and with ideal MHD, we explore a wide parameter space of magnetic field strength, magnetic field geometry, collision velocity, and impact parameter, and compare isolated versus colliding clouds. We find factors of ~2-3 increase in mean clump density from typical collisions, with strong dependence on collision velocity and magnetic field strength, but ultimately limited by flux-freezing in 2D geometries. For geometries enabling flow along magnetic field lines, greater degrees of collapse are seen. We discuss observational diagnostics of cloud collisions, focussing on 13CO(J=2-1), 13CO(J=3-2), and 12CO(J=8-7) integrated intensity maps and spectra, which we synthesize from our simulation outputs. We find the ratio of J=8-7 to lower-J emission is a powerful diagnostic probe of GMC collisions.

astro-ph.GA↗