Fragmentation of Rapidly Rotating Gas Clouds. I. A Universal Criterion for Fragmentation
Abstract
A pressure-supported, collapsing gas cloud evolves toward an axisymmetric equilibrium state if one exists. Therefore, one can explore the fragmentation problem, in part, by studying the structure and stability of axisymmtric equilibrium states. The authors formulate a pair of criteria for rotating gas clouds that must be satisfied simultaneously if the final collapsed object is going to be unstable toward fragmentation. The first criterion involves the ratio of rotational energy T to gravitational energy W. Centrally condensed objects become dynamically unstable to non-axisymmetric modes if T/|W| = 0.27. Self-gravitating toroidal systems, however, become dynamically unstable at T/|W| = 0.14. The second criterion is related to the strength of the Coriolis force and states that the condition for fragmentation is coincident with the condition for ring formation.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- December 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1086/165856
- Bibcode:
- 1987ApJ...323..592H
- Keywords:
-
- Fragmentation;
- Gravitational Collapse;
- Interstellar Gas;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Rotating Fluids;
- Coriolis Effect;
- Incompressible Fluids;
- Star Formation;
- Stellar Rotation;
- Astrophysics;
- INSTABILITIES;
- NEBULAE: GENERAL;
- STARS: FORMATION;
- STARS: ROTATION