Developing Diagnostics of Molecular Clouds Using Numerical MHD Simulations

Abstract

An important aspect of astrophysical MHD turbulence research is developing diagnostics to connect simulations with the observable universe. Turbulent systems are by definition structurally complex in all fluid variables (density, velocity, and magnetic field), such that they must be described statistically. By developing and applying diagnostic tools to simulation data, it is possible to interpret empirical laws for the statistical properties of observed systems in terms of fundamental dynamical processes, and to identify and calibrate robust probes of physical parameters that cannot be measured directly. Using several different examples, I describe how structural diagnostic analyses have already yielded significant insights into the nature of turbulent molecular clouds. I review results from several different groups, and discuss directions for future diagnostics to enhance our understanding of cloud structure and constrain models of the evolutionary course that governs star formation.