Experimental and Numerical Studies of the Collapse of Dense Clouds Induced by Herbig-Haro Stellar Jets

Bibliographic Details
Title: Experimental and Numerical Studies of the Collapse of Dense Clouds Induced by Herbig-Haro Stellar Jets
Authors: Fontaine, Marin, Busschaert, Clotilde, Benkadoum, Yaniss, Bertrix, Isabeau A., Koenig, Michel, Lefèvre, Frédéric, Marquès, Jean-Raphaël, Oportus, Diego, Ikeda, Akihiko, Matsuda, Yasuhiro H., Falize, Émeric, Albertazzi, Bruno
Source: The Astrophysical Journal, 981, 172, 2025 March 10
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: Astrophysics
Subject Terms: Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
More Details: This study investigates the influence of Herbig-Haro jets on initiating star formation in dense environments. When molecular clouds are nearing gravitational instability, the impact of a protostellar jet could provide the impetus needed to catalyze star formation. A high-energy-density experiment was carried out at the LULI2000 laser facility, where a supersonic jet generated by a nanosecond laser was used to compress a foam or plastic ball, mimicking the interaction of a Herbig-Haro jet with a molecular cloud. Simulations using the 3D radiation hydrodynamics code TROLL provided comprehensive data for analyzing ball compression and calculating jet characteristics. After applying scaling laws, similarities between stellar and experimental jets were explored. Diagnostic simulations-including density gradient, emission, and X-ray radiographies-showed strong agreement with experimental data. The results of the experiment, supported by simulations, demonstrate that the impact of a protostellar jet on a molecular cloud could reduce the Bonnor-Ebert mass by approximately 9%, thereby initiating collapse.
Document Type: Working Paper
DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/adb715
Access URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2411.04736
Accession Number: edsarx.2411.04736
Database: arXiv
More Details
DOI:10.3847/1538-4357/adb715