On the observed diversity of star formation efficiencies in Giant Molecular Clouds

Observations find a median star formation efficiency per free-fall time in Milky Way Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs) of the order of eff ~ 1 per cent with dispersions of ~0.5dex. The origin of this scatter in eff is still debated and difficult to reproduce with analytical models.We track the formation, evolution and destruction of GMCs in a hydrodynamical simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy and by deriving cloud properties in an observationally motivated way, we measure the distribution of star formation efficiencies which are in excellent agreement with observations. We find no significant link between eff and any measured global property of GMCs (e.g. gas mass, velocity dispersion). Instead, a wide range of efficiencies exist in the entire parameter space. From the cloud evolutionary tracks, we find that each cloud follows a unique evolutionary path which gives rise to a wide diversity in all properties.We argue that it is this diversity in cloud properties, above everything else, that results in the dispersion of eff .

NATURVETENSKAP Fysik Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Physical Sciences Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology hsv//eng
NATURVETENSKAP Kemi Polymerkemi hsv//swe
NATURAL SCIENCES Chemical Sciences Polymer Chemistry hsv//eng
Galaxies: evolution
Galaxies: star formation
ISM: clouds
Galaxies: ISM
Galaxies:structure
ISM: clouds, galaxies: evolution, galaxies: ISM, galaxies: star formation, galaxies:structure, Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies

Agertz, OscarLund University,Lunds universitet,Astronomi - Genomgår omorganisation,Institutionen för astronomi och teoretisk fysik - Genomgår omorganisation,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Lund Observatory - Undergoing reorganization,Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics - Undergoing reorganization,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)os6277ag (author)
Renaud, FlorentLund University,Lunds universitet,Astronomi - Genomgår omorganisation,Institutionen för astronomi och teoretisk fysik - Genomgår omorganisation,Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten,Lund Observatory - Undergoing reorganization,Department of Astronomy and Theoretical Physics - Undergoing reorganization,Faculty of Science(Swepub:lu)fl7084re (author)
Romeo, Alessandro,1961Chalmers University of Technology(Swepub:cth)romeo (author)
Devriendt, JulienUniversity Of Oxford,University of Oxford (author)
Slyz, AdrianneUniversity Of Oxford,University of Oxford (author)
University Of OxfordUniversity of Oxford (creator_code:org_t)

In:Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Oxford University Press (OUP)486:4, s. 5482-54910035-87111365-2966

By the author/editor: Grisdale, Kearn; Agertz, Oscar; Renaud, Florent; Romeo, Alessandr ...; Devriendt, Julie ...; Slyz, Adrianne

About the subject

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Physical Science ...; and Astronomy Astrop ...

NATURAL SCIENCES: NATURAL SCIENCES; and Chemical Science ...; and Polymer Chemistr ...

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