What probability distribution functions tell us about the processes of star formation

Publisher: Edp Sciences

E-ISSN: 1638-1963|75-76|issue|175-176

ISSN: 1633-4760

Source: EAS Publications Series, Vol.75-76, Iss.issue, 2016-05, pp. : 175-176

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Abstract

Probability distribution functions of column density (N-PDFs) are used to evaluate the relative importance of gravity, turbulence, magnetic fields, geometry, and radiative feedback governing the cloud's density structure and star-formation activity. These proce- sses influence the N-PDF and thus determine their shape, ranging from a purely lognormal distribution to one with power-law tail(s).