Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Core Formation In Partially Ionized Magnetic Molecular Clouds, Nicole D. Bailey

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Linear analysis of the formation of protostellar cores in planar magnetic interstellar clouds shows that molecular clouds exhibit a preferred length scale for collapse that depends on the mass-to-flux ratio and neutral-ion collision time within the cloud. This linear analysis can be used to investigate the formation of star forming clusters and the distribution of mass within star forming regions. By combining the results of the linear analysis with a realistic ionization profile for the cloud, we find that a molecular cloud may evolve through two fragmentation events in the evolution toward the formation of stars. Our model suggests that …