High-resolution HCO(+) and HCN observations of M17SW - Clumps, turbulence and cloud support
M. P. Hobson;
MNRAS, 1992, 256, 457

ABSTRACT:High-resolution observations of the molecular cloud core M17SW in the HCO(+) J = 3 - 2 and HCN J = 3 - 2 transitions are presented. Analysis of the intensity distribution, using power spectrum and autocorrelation function techniques, indicates the presence of structure in both lines, on all scales down to the resolution limit of the telescope. The turbulent pressure and maximum energy dissipation rate are derived as functions of scale size, and the relationship is markedly different from that assumed in standard turbulent cascade models. A Gaussian decomposition of the HCO(+) and HCN emission identifies 32 and 19 clumps, respectively. Clump masses range from a few to a few thousand solar masses and, for both data sets, are consistent with a power-law mass spectrum of the form dN/dM varies as M exp -1.9.
KEYWORDS: formyl ions, hydrocyanic acid, interstellar matter, molecular clouds, molecular ions, power spectra, fourier analysis, star formation, stellar composition
PERSOKEY:turbulence, ,
CODE: hobson92