Unveiling the Dynamics of Dense Cores in Cluster-Forming Clumps: A 3D MHD Simulation Study of Angular Momentum and Magnetic Field Properties

TL;DR

This study uses 3D MHD simulations to explore how dense cores in cluster-forming clumps inherit angular momentum and magnetic field properties, revealing the effects of turbulence and collisions on core alignment and dynamics.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the influence of turbulence and clump collisions on core angular momentum and magnetic field alignment in star-forming regions.

Findings

Alignment of core angular momentum with clump rotation depends on turbulence strength.

Colliding clumps show no alignment due to collision-induced turbulence.

Magnetic fields in cores tend to align with shock-compressed layers.

Abstract

We conducted isothermal MHD simulations with self-gravity to investigate the properties of dense cores in cluster-forming clumps. Two different setups were explored: a single rotating clump and colliding clumps. We focused on determining the extent to which the formed dense cores inherit the rotation and magnetic field of the parental clump. Our statistical analysis revealed that the alignment between the angular momentum of dense cores, $\bf{L}_{\rm core}$, and the rotational axis of the clump is influenced by the strength of turbulence and the simulation setup. In single rotating clumps, we found that $\bf{L}_{\rm core}$ tends to align with the clump's rotational axis if the initial turbulence is weak. However, in colliding clumps, this alignment does not occur, regardless of the initial turbulence strength. This misalignment in colliding clumps is due to the induced turbulence from the collision and the isotropic gas inflow into dense cores. Our analysis of colliding clumps also revealed that the magnetic field globally bends along the shock-compressed layer, and the mean magnetic field of dense cores, $\bf{B}_{\rm core}$, aligns with it. Both in single rotating clumps and colliding clumps, we found that the angle between $\bf{B}_{\rm core}$ and $\bf{L}_{\rm core}$ is generally random, regardless of the clump properties. We also analyzed the dynamical states of the formed cores and found a higher proportion of unbound cores in colliding clumps. In addition, the contribution of rotational energy was only approximately 5% of the gravitational energy, regardless of the model parameters for both single and colliding cases.