8,571 research outputs found
The structure and stability of molecular cloud cores in external radiation fields
We have considered the thermal equilibrium in pre-protostellar cores in the
approximation where the dust temperature is independent of interactions with
the gas and where the gas is heated both by collisions with dust grains and
ionization by cosmic rays. We have then used these results to study the
stability of cores in the limit where thermal pressure dominates over magnetic
field and turbulence. We find that for cores with characteristics similar to
those observed, the gas and dust temperatures are coupled in the core interior.
As a consequence, the gas temperature like the dust temperature decreases
towards the center of these objects. The density structure computed taking into
account such deviations from isothermality are not greatly different from that
expected for an isothermal Bonnor-Ebert sphere. It is impossible in the
framework of these models to have a stable equilibrium core with mass above
about 5 solar masses and column density compatible with observed values. We
conclude from this that observed high mass cores are either supported by
magnetic field or turbulence or are already in a state of collapse. Lower mass
cores on the other hand have stable states and we conclude that the much
studied object B68 may be in a state of stable equilibrium if the internal gas
temperature is computed in self-consistent fashion. Finally we note that in
molecular clouds such as Ophiuchus and Orion with high radiation fields and
pressures, gas and dust temperatures are expected to be well coupled and hence
one expects temperatures to be relatively high as compared to low pressure
clouds like Taurus.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Astronomy & Astrophysics, in pres
Scalar perturbations and the possible self-destruction of the phantom menace
Some analysis of the supernovae type Ia observational data seems to indicate
that the Universe today is dominated by a phantom field, for which all energy
conditions are violated. Such phantom field may imply a singularity in a future
finite time, called big rip. Studying the evolution of scalar perturbations for
such a field, we show that if the pressure is negative enough, the Universe can
become highly inhomogeneous and this phantom menace may be avoided.Comment: Latex file, 5 page
Modeling Two Dimensional Magnetic Domain Patterns
Two-dimensional magnetic garnets exhibit complex and fascinating magnetic
domain structures, like stripes, labyrinths, cells and mixed states of stripes
and cells. These patterns do change in a reversible way when the intensity of
an externally applied magnetic field is varied. The main objective of this
contribution is to present the results of a model that yields a rich pattern
structure that closely resembles what is observed experimentally. Our model is
a generalized two-dimensional Ising-like spin-one Hamiltonian with long-range
interactions, which also incorporates anisotropy and Zeeman terms. The model is
studied numerically, by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Changing the model
parameters stripes, labyrinth and/or cellular domain structures are generated.
For a variety of cases we display the patterns, determine the average size of
the domains, the ordering transition temperature, specific heat, magnetic
susceptibility and hysteresis cycle. Finally, we examine the reversibility of
the pattern evolution under variations of the applied magnetic field. The
results we obtain are in good qualitative agreement with experiment.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
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