Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
179,152 studies31 sourcesUpdated 47 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0The Astrophysical Journal

Magnetized Interstellar Molecular Clouds. III. Filament Collisions and Core Formation: Insights into Substructures and Evolution

  • Pak Shing Li1
  • Christopher F. McKee2
  • Richard I. Klein2
  1. 1Chinese Academy of Sciences
  2. 2University of California at Berkeley
Open at sourcePDFDOICite

Abstract

We present the results of a driven, ideal magnetohydrodynamics simulation of a molecular cloud to study the formation of filamentary structures in molecular clouds and their fragmentation into dense cloud cores. Shock compression results in the formation of subparsec-long filamentary structures. Large-scale supersonic flows push these small filaments together and form massive filamentary clouds. The main filament that forms stretches across the full 4.4 pc length of the simulation and has a median FWHM of 0.075 pc, similar to that observed in many molecular clouds. Subfilaments inside the main filament have a median FWHM of 0.03–0.04 pc, similar to the “fibers” observed in molecular lines. The collision and merger of subcritical subfilaments is an important mechanism for the formation of prestellar cores. Colliding subfilaments and the resulting core at their intersection form a hub–filament system similar to that associated with massive star formation, but on a smaller scale. Core mergers can be significant in the growth of prestellar cores and may play a role in the formation of binary stars.

Related

  1. Silicate cosmic dust grain collisions in the interstellar medium: A molecular dynamics study
    C. J. Esmerian, S. R. Hashemi, W. M. C. Sameera +7
    arXivPreprintCC BY 4.0Full textGalaxiesCondensed matterarXiv
  2. Studying the Intermittency of Magnetized Interstellar Medium by Synchrotron Polarization Intensity and its Gradient
    Ru-Yue Wang, Jian-Fu Zhang
    arXivPreprintCC BY 4.0Full textGalaxiesHigh-energy astrophysicsarXiv
  3. Studying the Intermittency of the Magnetized Interstellar Medium by Synchrotron Polarization Intensity and Its Gradient
    Ru-Yue Wang, Jian-Fu Zhang
    The Astrophysical JournalPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textSolar & stellar physicsCrossref
  4. Probing Planet Formation within 10 au: Dust Substructures in Extremely Compact Protoplanetary Disks
    Pietro Curone, Gijs D. Mulders, Nienke van der Marel +1
    arXivPreprintCC BY 4.0Full textPlanetary science & exoplanetsSolar & stellar physicsarXiv
  5. Probing Planet Formation within 10 au: Dust Substructures in Extremely Compact Protoplanetary Disks
    Pietro Curone, Gijs D. Mulders, Nienke van der Marel +1
    The Astrophysical Journal LettersPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textSolar & stellar physicsCrossref

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{li2026magnetized,
  title = {{Magnetized Interstellar Molecular Clouds. III. Filament Collisions and Core Formation: Insights into Substructures and Evolution}},
  author = {Pak Shing Li and Christopher F. McKee and Richard I. Klein},
  journal = {The Astrophysical Journal},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aea6cb},
  url = {https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea6cb},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Magnetized Interstellar Molecular Clouds. III. Filament Collisions and Core Formation: Insights into Substructures and Evolution
AU  - Pak Shing Li
AU  - Christopher F. McKee
AU  - Richard I. Klein
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - The Astrophysical Journal
DO  - 10.3847/1538-4357/aea6cb
UR  - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aea6cb
AB  - We present the results of a driven, ideal magnetohydrodynamics simulation of a molecular cloud to study the formation of filamentary structures in molecular clouds and their fragmentation into dense cloud cores. Shock compression results in the formation of subparsec-long filamentary structures. Large-scale supersonic flows push these small filaments together and form massive filamentary clouds. The main filament that forms stretches across the full 4.4 pc length of the simulation and has a median FWHM of 0.075 pc, similar to that observed in many molecular clouds. Subfilaments inside the main filament have a median FWHM of 0.03–0.04 pc, similar to the “fibers” observed in molecular lines. The collision and merger of subcritical subfilaments is an important mechanism for the formation of prestellar cores. Colliding subfilaments and the resulting core at their intersection form a hub–filament system similar to that associated with massive star formation, but on a smaller scale. Core mergers can be significant in the growth of prestellar cores and may play a role in the formation of binary stars.
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
ER  -