The density structure of supersonic self-gravitating turbulence

TL;DR

This study uses numerical simulations to analyze the density distribution in supersonic, self-gravitating turbulence, revealing a universal PDF shape with distinct power-law tails and how it depends on turbulence parameters.

Contribution

Introduces a new diagnostic, the $ ext{ε}_{ m ff}(s)$ curve, and models the relationship between turbulence parameters and density thresholds in star-forming clouds.

Findings

PDF has a universal form with a log-normal and two power-law tails.

Star formation efficiency stabilizes the PDF, showing no secular evolution.

Mach number and virial parameter determine density thresholds for PDF transitions.

Abstract

We conduct numerical experiments to determine the density probability distribution function (PDF) produced in supersonic, isothermal, self-gravitating turbulence of the sort that is ubiquitous in star-forming molecular clouds. Our experiments cover a wide range of turbulent Mach number and virial parameter, allowing us for the first time to determine how the PDF responds as these parameters vary, and we introduce a new diagnostic, the dimensionless star formation efficiency versus density ($\epsilon_{\rm ff}(s)$) curve, which provides a sensitive diagnostic of the PDF shape and dynamics. We show that the PDF follows a universal functional form consisting of a log-normal at low density with two distinct power law tails at higher density; the first of these represents the onset of self-gravitation, and the second reflects the onset of rotational support. Once the star formation efficiency reaches a few percent, the PDF becomes statistically steady, with no evidence for secular time-evolution at star formation efficiencies from about five to 20 percent. We show that both the Mach number and the virial parameter influence the characteristic densities at which the log-normal gives way to the first power-law, and the first to the second, and we extend (for the former) and develop (for the latter) simple theoretical models for the relationship between these density thresholds and the global properties of the turbulent medium.