Observations of Turbulence Dissipating in Low Velocity Shocks in the Perseus B1-E5 Starless Core
Abstract
Molecular clouds contain significant supersonic turbulence that is expected to decay rapidly. I present observations of the CO J = 6-5 line obtained with the Herschel Space Observatory towards the Perseus B1-E5 starless core. Photodissociation region models fit to lower J CO lines all underpredict the observed 6-5 intensity, thereby indicating the presence of a second warm gas component in the core, consistent with models of turbulence dissipating in low velocity shocks. With the aid of low velocity shock models, parameters such as the turbulent energy dissipation rate, the turbulent dissipation timescale, and the shock heated gas volume filling factor are derived.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #225
- Pub Date:
- January 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AAS...22512702P