Patrick Hennebelle (École Normale Supérieure, Paris)

Structure of the interstellar atomic hydrogen. Structure of the molecular clouds? - Patrick Hennebelle Colloquium

ATNF Marsfield Lecture Theatre

Abstract

The atomic interstellar medium (HI) plays a crucial role in galaxies containing a large fraction of their gaseous component and being the precursor of molecular clouds in which star formation is taking place. Yet, the structure of HI is not easily inferred from observations and remains a matter of debate.

In the talk, I will first recall the important physical processes thought to be important for the HI as well as some observational facts. I will then present numerical simulations aiming to model the dynamics of the atomic interstellar medium from which statistics will be inferred and compared with observations. Finally, I will consider the formation of molecular clouds induced by large scale flows of HI and discuss the consequences this process may have.