Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Probing Molecular Clouds — Their Density and Structure

  • Conference paper
Millimeter-Wave Astronomy: Molecular Chemistry & Physics in Space

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 241))

Abstract

Knowledge of physical conditions in molecular clouds is a prerequisite for deriving the distribution of molecular material in the Milky Way and other galaxies, understanding star formation within these dense regions, the stellar initial mass function, and appreciating the effects of interaction of young stars with their natal environment. In this lecture, I review some of the basic techniques for determining physical parameters of interstellar molecular clouds, emphasizing measurements relating to mass, column density, and density. These studies provide considerable information concerning the relationship of molecular clouds and star formation, and are beginning to suggest to us what is the actual nature of these clouds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. D.J. Hollenbach & H.A. Thronson, eds. Interstellar Processes. Dordrecht: Reidel, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  2. C.J. Lada & N.D. Kylafis eds., The Physics of Star Formation and Early Stellar Evolution. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  3. T.L. Wilson & K.J. Johnston eds., The Structure and Content of Molecular Clouds. Berlin: Springer, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  4. D.P. Clemens & R. Barvainis eds., Clouds, Cores, and Low Mass Stars. San Francisco: ASP, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  5. W.B. Latter, S.J.E. Radford, P.R. Jewell, J.G. Mangum, & J. Bally eds. CO: Twenty-Five Years of Millimeter-Wave Spectroscopy. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 1997

    Google Scholar 

  6. Goldsmith, P.F., Bergin, E.A., & Lis, D.C. 1997, ApJ, submitted

    Google Scholar 

  7. Langer, W.D., Wilson, R.W., Goldsmith, P.F., & Beichmann, C.A. 1989, ApJ, 337, 355

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. van Dishoeck, E.F., & Black, J.H. 1988, ApJ, 354, 771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Scoville, N.Z. & Sanders, D.B. in D.J. Hollenbach & H.A. Thronson, eds. Interstellar Processes. Dordrecht: Reidel, pp. 21–50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Lis, D.C. & Goldsmith, P.F. 1989, ApJ, 337, 704

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Dame, T.M., Elmegreen, B.G., Cohen, R.S., & Thaddeus, P. 1986, ApJ, 305, 892

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mathis, J.S., Rumpl, W., & Nordsieck, K.H. 1977, ApJ, 217, 425

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bohlin, R.C., Savage, B.D., & Drake, J.F. 1978, ApJ, 224, 132

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Carrasco, L., Strom, S.E., & Strom, K.M. 1973, ApJ, 182, 195

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cernicharo, J., Bachiller, R., & Duvert, G. 1985, A&A, 149, 273

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Myers, P.C., Ho, P.T.P., Schneps, M.H., Chin, G., Pankonin, V., & Winnberg, A. 1982, ApJ, 220, 864

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Dickman, R.L., & Clemens, D.P. ApJ, 271, 143

    Google Scholar 

  18. Young, J.S., Goldsmith, P.F., Langer, W.D., Wilson, R.W., and Carlson, E.R. 1982, ApJ, 261, 513

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Xie, T., Goldsmith, P.F., & Zhou, W. 1991, ApJ1, 371, L81

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Werner, M.W. 1982, in Symposium on The Orion Nebula To Honor Henry Draper, A.E. Glassgold, P.J. Huggins, & E.L. Schucking eds. New York; NY Academy of Science, 79

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bergin, E.A., Goldsmith, P.F., Snell, R.L., & Ungerechts, H. 1994, ApJ, 431, 674

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gordon, M.A. 1995, A&A, 301, 853

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Hildebrand, R.H. 1983, QJRAS, 24, 267

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Mathis, J.S., & Whiffen, G. 1989, ApJ, 341, 808

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Dickman, R.L. 1978, ApJs 37, 407

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Arquilla, R., & Goldsmith, P.F. 1984, ApJ, 279, 664

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Arquilla, R., & Goldsmith, P.F. 1985, ApJ, 297, 436

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Cummins, S.E., Linke, R.A., & Thaddeus, P. 1986, ApJs, 60, 819

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Turner, B.E. 1991, ApJs, 76, 617

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Irvine, W.M., Goldsmith, P.F., & Hjalmarson, A. 1987, D.J. Hollenbach & H.A. Thronson, eds. Interstellar Processes. Dordrecht: Reidel, 561

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wolkovitch, D., Langer, W.D., Goldsmith, P.F., & Heyer, M. 1997, ApJ, 477, 241

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Flower, D., 1990, Molecular Collisions in the Interstellar Medium. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  33. Goldsmith, P.F., Young, J.S., & Langer, W.D. 1983, ApJs, 51, 203

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Goldreich, P., & Kwan, J. 1974, ApJ, 189, 441

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Plume, R., Jaffe, D.T., Evans, N.J. II, Martin-Pintado, J., & Gómez-González, J. 1997,

    Google Scholar 

  36. Goldsmith, P.F. 1982, ApJ, 176, 597

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Plambeck, R.L., & Williams, D.R.W. 1979, ApJ, 227, L45

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Young, J.S. Goldsmith, P.F., Langer, W.D., Wilson, R.W., & Carlson, E.R. 1982, ApJ, 261, 513

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Castets, A., Duvert, G., Dutrey, A., Bally, J., Langer, W.D., & Wilson, R.W. 1990, A&A, 234, 469

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. [40] Dutrey, A., Duvert, G., Castets, A., Langer, W.D., Bally, J., & Wilson, R.W. 1993, A&A, 270, 468

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Castets, A., & Langer, W.D. 1995, A&A, 294, 835

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Linke, R.A., & Goldsmith, P.F. 1980, ApJ, 235, 437

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Snell, R.L., Langer, W.D., & Frerking, M.A. 1982, ApJ, 255, 149

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Snell, R.L. 1981, ApJs, 45, 121

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Snell, R.L., Mundy, L.G., Goldsmith, P.F., Evans, N.J. II, & Erickson, N.R. 1984, ApJ, 276, 625

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Liszt, H.S. & Linke, R.A. 1975, ApJ, 196, 709

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. Mundy, L.G., Snell, R.L., Evans, N.J. II, Goldsmith, P.F., & Bally, J. 1986, ApJ, 306, 670

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Mundy, L.G.., Evans, N.J. II, Snell, R.L., & Goldsmith, P.F. 1987, ApJ, 318, 392

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Morris, M., Snell, R.L., & Vanden Bout, P. 1977, ApJ, 216, 738

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. Vanden Bout, P.A., Loren, R.B., Snell, R.L., & Wootten, A. 1983, ApJ, 271, 161

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Snell, R.L., Schloerb, F.P., Young, J.S., Hjalmarson, Å, & Friberg, P. 1981, ApJ, 244, 45

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Bergin, E.A., Snell, R.L., & Goldsmith, P.F. 1996, ApJ, 460, 343

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ungerechts, H., Bergin, E.A., Goldsmith, P.F., Irvine, W.M., Schloerb, F.P, & Snell, R.L. Proc. Second Zermatt Symposium, in press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Paul F. Goldsmith

Authors
  1. Paul F. Goldsmith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. INAOE, Tonantzintla, Mexico

    W. F. Wall , A. Carramiñana  & L. Carrasco ,  & 

  2. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    P. F. Goldsmith

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Goldsmith, P.F. (1999). Probing Molecular Clouds — Their Density and Structure. In: Wall, W.F., Carramiñana, A., Carrasco, L., Goldsmith, P.F. (eds) Millimeter-Wave Astronomy: Molecular Chemistry & Physics in Space. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 241. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4714-9_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4714-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5983-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4714-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation