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Molecular clouds have power-law PDFs (not log-normal)

Publications: Contribution to journalMeeting abstract/Conference paperPeer Reviewed

Abstract

Contrary to common belief, the column density PDFs of molecular clouds are not described well by log-normal functions, but are instead power-laws with exponents close to two. We argue that the intrinsic functional form of the PDF cannot be securely determined below A K ~ 0.1-0.2 mag, limiting our ability to investigate more complex models for the shape of the cloud PDF.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)706-707
Number of pages2
JournalProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Volume11
Issue numberA29B
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventIAU General Assembly 2015: Meeting #29 - Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Duration: 3 Aug 201514 Aug 2015

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 103004 Astrophysics

Keywords

  • ISM: clouds
  • ISM: general
  • ISM: extinction
  • ISM: structure

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