Turbulence in the Star-forming Interstellar Medium: Steps toward Constraining Theories with Observations

Abstract

Increasingly sophisticated observational tools and techniques are now being developed for probing the nature of interstellar turbulence. At the same time, theoretical advances in understanding the nature of turbulence and its effects on the structure of the ISM and on star formation are occurring at a rapid pace, aided in part by numerical simulations. These increased capabilities on both fronts open new opportunities for strengthening the links between observation and theory,and for meaningful comparisons between the two.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, Summary of Interstellar Turbulence Sessions at the Workshop on Magnetic Fields and Star Formation: Theory versus Observation