Showing papers by "François Levrier published in 2004"
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of the specific properties of molecular clouds in their least condensed phase is presented, focusing on their connection with the diffuse medium, their multi-fractal characteristics and the diversity of their small-scale structure where cold and dense gas may coexist with dilute and warm gas.
Abstract: This review, far from exhaustive, focuses on the specific properties of molecular clouds in their least condensed phase Emphasis is placed on their connection with the diffuse medium, their multi-fractal characteristics and the diversity of their small-scale structure, where cold and dense gas may coexist with dilute and warm gas Stuctures of essentially pure velocity origin are uncovered and seen as a possible signature of the intermittency of turbulence dissipation
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an analytical study of the statistical properties of integrated emission and velocity centroids for a slightly compressible turbulent slab model, to retrieve the underlying statistics of three-dimensional density and velocity fluctuations.
Abstract: We present an analytical study of the statistical properties of integrated emission and velocity centroids for a slightly compressible turbulent slab model, to retrieve the underlying statistics of three-dimensional density and velocity fluctuations. Under the assumptions that the density and velocity fields are homogeneous and isotropic, we derive the expressions of the antenna temperature for an optically thin spectral line observation, and of its successive moments with respect to the line of sight velocity component, focusing on the zeroth (intensity or integrated emission I) and first (non-normalized velocity centroid C) moments. The ratio of the latter to the former is the normalized centroid C_0, whose expression can be linearized for small density fluctuations. To describe the statistics of I, C and C_0, we derive expansions of their autocorrelation functions in powers of density fluctuations and perform a lowest-order real-space calculation of their scaling behaviour, assuming that the density and velocity fields are fractional Brownian motions. We hence confirm, within the scope of this study, the property recently found numerically by Miville-Deschenes, Levrier and Falgarone (2003, ApJ, 593, 831) that the spectral index of the normalized centroid is equal to that of the full velocity field. However, it is also argued that, in order to retrieve the velocity statistics, normalization of centroids may actually not be the best way to remove the influence of density fluctuations. In this respect, we discuss the modified velocity centroids introduced by Lazarian and Esquivel (2003, ApJL, 592, 37) as a possible alternative. In a following paper, we shall present numerical studies aimed at assessing the validity domain of these results.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an analytical study of the statistical properties of integrated emission and velocity centroids for a slightly compressible turbulent slab model, to retrieve the underlying statistics of three-dimensional density and velocity fluctuations.
Abstract: We present an analytical study of the statistical properties of integrated emission and velocity centroids for a slightly compressible turbulent slab model, to retrieve the underlying statistics of three-dimensional density and velocity fluctuations. Under the assumptions that the density and velocity fields are homogeneous and isotropic, we derive the expressions of the antenna temperature for an optically thin spectral line observation, and of its successive moments with respect to the line of sight velocity component, focusing on the zeroth (intensity or integrated emission I) and first (non-normalized velocity centroid C) moments. The ratio of the latter to the former is the normalized centroid C_0, whose expression can be linearized for small density fluctuations. To describe the statistics of I, C and C_0, we derive expansions of their autocorrelation functions in powers of density fluctuations and perform a lowest-order real-space calculation of their scaling behaviour, assuming that the density and velocity fields are fractional Brownian motions. We hence confirm, within the scope of this study, the property recently found numerically by Miville-Deschenes, Levrier and Falgarone (2003, ApJ, 593, 831) that the spectral index of the normalized centroid is equal to that of the full velocity field. However, it is also argued that, in order to retrieve the velocity statistics, normalization of centroids may actually not be the best way to remove the influence of density fluctuations. In this respect, we discuss the modified velocity centroids introduced by Lazarian and Esquivel (2003, ApJL, 592, 37) as a possible alternative. In a following paper, we shall present numerical studies aimed at assessing the validity domain of these results.
1 citations