The Nature of the Dense Core Population in the Pipe Nebula: Thermal Cores Under Pressure

Understand

In this paper we present the results of a systematic investigation of an entire population of starless dust cores within a single molecular cloud.

• Analysis of extinction data shows the cores to be dense objects characterized by a narrow range of density.
• Analysis of C18O and NH3 molecular-line observations reveals very narrow lines.
• The non-thermal velocity dispersions measured in both these tracers are found to be subsonic for the large majority of the cores and show no correlation with core mass (or size).