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Scale-free equilibria of isopedic polytropic clouds

  • D. Galli
  • , S. Lizano
  • , Z. Y. Li
  • , F. C. Adams
  • , F. H. Shu

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

Abstract

We investigate the equilibrium properties of self-gravitating magnetized clouds with polytropic equations of state with negative index n. In particular, we consider scale-free isopedic configurations that have constant dimensionless spherical mass-to-flux ratio λr and that may constitute "pivotal" states for subsequent dynamical collapse to form groups or clusters of stars. For given Γ = 1 + 1/n, equilibria with smaller values of λr are more flattened, ranging from spherical configurations with λr = ∞ to completely flattened states for λr = 1. For a given amount of support provided by the magnetic field as measured by the dimensionless parameter H0, equilibria with smaller values of Γ are more flattened. However, logatropic (defined by Γ = 0) disks do not exist. The only possible scale-free isopedic equilibria with logatropic equation of state are spherical uniformly magnetized clouds.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)630-639
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume521
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Aug 1999
Externally publishedYes

Research Keywords

  • ISM: clouds
  • ISM: magnetic fields
  • MHD
  • Stars: formation

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