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Pillars and globules at the edges of H II regions: Confronting Herschel observations and numerical simulations

Tremblin, P., Minier, V., Schneider, N., Audit, E., Hill, T., Didelon, P., Peretto, Nicolas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6893-602X, Arzoumanian, D., Motte, F., Zavagno, A., Bontemps, S., Anderson, L. D., Andre, Ph, Bernard, J. P., Csengeri, T., Di Francesco, J., Elia, D., Hennemann, M., Koenyves, V., Marston, A. P., Luong, Q. Nguyen, Rivera-Ingraham, A., Roussel, H., Sousbie, T., Spinoglio, L., White, G. J. and Williams, J. 2013. Pillars and globules at the edges of H II regions: Confronting Herschel observations and numerical simulations. Astronomy and Astrophysics 560 , A19. 10.1051/0004-6361/201322233

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Abstract

Context. Herschel far-infrared imaging observations have revealed the density structure of the interface between H ii regions and molecular clouds in great detail. In particular, pillars and globules are present in many high-mass star-forming regions, such as the Eagle nebula (M 16) and the Rosette molecular cloud, and understanding their origin will help characterize triggered star formation. Aims. The formation mechanisms of these structures are still being debated. The initial morphology of the molecular cloud and its turbulent state are key parameters since they generate deformations and curvatures of the shell during the expansion of the H ii region. Recent numerical simulations have shown how pillars can arise from the collapse of the shell in on itself and how globules can be formed from the interplay of the turbulent molecular cloud and the ionization from massive stars. The goal here is to test this scenario through recent observations of two massive star-forming regions, M 16 and the Rosette molecular cloud. Methods. First, the column density structure of the interface between molecular clouds and associated H ii regions was characterized using column density maps obtained from far-infrared imaging of the Herschel HOBYS key programme. Then, the DisPerSe algorithm was used on these maps to detect the compressed layers around the ionized gas and pillars in different evolutionary states. Column density profiles were constructed. Finally, their velocity structure was investigated using CO data, and all observational signatures were tested against some distinct diagnostics established from simulations. Results. The column density profiles have revealed the importance of compression at the edge of the ionized gas. The velocity properties of the structures, i.e. pillars and globules, are very close to what we predict from the numerical simulations. We have identified a good candidate of a nascent pillar in the Rosette molecular cloud that presents the velocity pattern of the shell collapsing on itself, induced by a high local curvature. Globules have a bulk velocity dispersion that indicates the importance of the initial turbulence in their formation, as proposed from numerical simulations. Altogether, this study re-enforces the picture of pillar formation by shell collapse and globule formation by the ionization of highly turbulent clouds.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Physics and Astronomy
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QC Physics
Publisher: EDP Sciences
ISSN: 0004-6361
Last Modified: 27 Oct 2022 08:24
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/62211

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