Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Non-Isobaric Thermal Instability, Tim Waters, Daniel Proga

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Research

Multiphase media have very complex structure and evolution. Accurate numerical simulations are necessary to make advances in our understanding of this rich physics. Because simulations can capture both the linear and nonlinear evolution of perturbations with a relatively wide range of sizes, it is important to thoroughly understand the stability of condensation and acoustic modes between the two extreme wavelength limits of isobaric and isochoric instability as identified by Field. Partially motivated by a recent suggestion that large non-isobaric clouds can "shatter" into tiny cloudlets, we revisit the linear theory to survey all possible regimes of thermal instability. We uncover …