The Spectral Correlation Function: A New Tool for Analyzing Spectral Line Maps
E. W. Rosolowsky, A. A. Goodman, D. J. Wilner, J. P. Williams;
ApJ, 1999, 524, 887
ABSTRACT:The ``spectral correlation function'' analysis we introduce in this paper is a new tool for analyzing spectral line data cubes.
Our initial
tests, carried out on a suite of observed and simulated data cubes, indicate
that the spectral correlation function (SCF) is likely to be a more
discriminating statistic than other statistical methods normally applied.
The SCF
is a measure of similarity between neighboring spectra in the data
cube.
When the SCF is used to compare a data cube consisting of spectral line
observations of the interstellar medium (ISM) with a data cube derived from MHD
simulations of molecular clouds, it can find differences that are not found by other
analyses.
The initial results presented here suggest that the inclusion of
self-gravity in numerical simulations is critical for reproducing the correlation
behavior of spectra in star-forming molecular clouds.
KEYWORDS: ism: structure, line: profiles, magnetohydrodynamics: mhd, methods: statistical, molecular data, turbulence
PERSOKEY:turbulence, ,
CODE: rosolowsky99