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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Galactic Center Isolated Nonthermal Filaments As Analogs Of Cometary Plasma Tails, Steven N. Shore, Ted La Rosa Aug 1999

The Galactic Center Isolated Nonthermal Filaments As Analogs Of Cometary Plasma Tails, Steven N. Shore, Ted La Rosa

Faculty and Research Publications

We propose a model for the origin of the isolated nonthermal filaments observed at the Galactic center based on an analogy to cometary plasma tails. We invoke the interaction between a large-scale magnetized galactic wind and embedded molecular clouds. As the advected wind magnetic field encounters a dense molecular cloud, it is impeded and drapes around the cloud, ultimately forming a current sheet in the wake. This draped held is further stretched by the wind flow into a long, thin filament the aspect ratio of which is determined by the balance between the dynamical wind and amplified magnetic field pressures. …


A Dynamical Study Of The Non-Star-Forming Translucent Molecular Cloud Mbm 16: Evidence For Shear-Driven Turbulence In The Interstellar Medium, Ted La Rosa, Steven N. Shore, Loris Magnani Feb 1999

A Dynamical Study Of The Non-Star-Forming Translucent Molecular Cloud Mbm 16: Evidence For Shear-Driven Turbulence In The Interstellar Medium, Ted La Rosa, Steven N. Shore, Loris Magnani

Faculty and Research Publications

We present the results of a velocity correlation study of the high-latitude cloud MBM 16 using a fully sampled 12CO map, supplemented by new 13CO data. We find a correlation length of 0.4 pc. This is similar in size to the formaldehyde clumps described in our previous study. We associate this correlated motion with coherent structures within the turbulent flow. Such structures are generated by free shear flows. Their presence in this non-star-forming cloud indicates that kinetic energy is being supplied to the internal turbulence by an external shear flow. Such large-scale driving over long times is a possible solution …