A general theory of turbulent fragmentation

Abstract

We develop an analytic framework to understand fragmentation in turbulent, self-gravitating media. Previously, we showed some properties of turbulence can be predicted with the excursion-set formalism. Here, we generalize to fully time-dependent gravo-turbulent fragmentation & collapse. We show that turbulent systems are always gravitationally unstable (in a probabilistic sense). The fragmentation mass spectra, size/mass relations, correlation functions, range of scales over which fragmentation occurs, & time-dependent rates of fragmentation are predictable. We show how this depends on bulk turbulent properties (Mach numbers & power spectra). We also generalize to include rotation, complicated equations of state, collapsing/expanding backgrounds, magnetic fields, intermittency, & non-normal statistics. We derive how fragmentation is suppressed with 'stiffer' equations of state or different driving mechanisms. Suppression appears at an 'effective sonic scale' where Mach(R,rho)~1. Gas becomes stable below this scale for polytropic gamma>4/3, but fragmentation still occurs on larger scales. The scale-free nature of turbulence and gravity generically drives mass spectra and correlation functions towards universal shapes, with weak dependence on many properties of the media. Correlated fluctuation structures, non-Gaussian density distributions, & intermittency have surprisingly small effects on the fragmentation process. This is because fragmentation cascades on small scales are 'frozen in' when large-scale modes push the 'parent' region above the collapse threshold; though they collapse, their statistics are only weakly modified by the collapse process. With thermal support, structure develops 'top-down' in time via fragmentation cascades; but strong rotational support reverses this to 'bottom-up' growth via mergers & introduces a maximal instability scale distinct from the Toomre scale.