Small-scale clustering of nano-dust grains in turbulent interstellar molecular clouds [Extended version]

2018/11/23 by Lars Mattsson, Mattsson, Lars
Chemical Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Combustion Engine Technologies #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #Atomic and Molecular Physics #FOS: Physical sciences

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1811.10432

openalex publication_date 2018/11/23 · openalex created_date 2018/11/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Clustering and dynamics of nano-sized particles (nano dust) is investigated using high-resolution (1024³) simulations of compressible isothermal hydrodynamic turbulence, intended to mimic the conditions inside cold molecular clouds in the interstellar medium. Nano-sized grains may cluster in a turbulent flow (small-scale clustering), which increases the local grain density significantly. Together with the increased interaction rate due to turbulent motions, aggregation of interstellar nano-dust may be plausible.

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