Have the Energetics of Molecular Line Flows been Exaggerated?
Abstract
If flows in molecular clouds are driven by stellar winds, the flow energetics, in principle, reflect the wind energetics. It has been generally accepted that the momentum requirements for the winds driving the flows are so severe that winds driven by conventional mechanisms cannot be responsible for the flows. Various exotic possibilities have therefore been proposed. It is suggested that these momentum requirements can be considerably alleviated by the simple expedient of assuming that the flows are stationary. Evaluation of the momentum requirements for various specific molecular flows implies that conventional wind driving mechanisms may suffice.
- Publication:
-
Mass Outflows from Stars and Galactic Nuclei
- Pub Date:
- 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1007/978-94-009-2941-8_34
- Bibcode:
- 1988ASSL..142..299D
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Models;
- Energy Transfer;
- Line Spectra;
- Molecular Clouds;
- Molecular Flow;
- Stellar Winds;
- Canonical Forms;
- Hypersonic Flow;
- Shock Wave Interaction;
- Astrophysics