Collapse of Magnetized Singular Isothermal Toroids: I. Non-Rotating Case

Abstract

We study numerically the collapse of non-rotating, self-gravitating, magnetized, singular isothermal toroids characterized by sound speed, $a$, and level of magnetic to thermal support, $H_0$. In qualitative agreement with previous treatments by Galli & Shu and other workers, we find that the infalling material is deflected by the field lines towards the equatorial plane, creating a high-density, flattened structure -- a pseudodisk. The pseudodisk contracts dynamically in the radial direction, dragging the field lines threading it into a highly pinched configuration that resembles a split monopole. The oppositely directed field lines across the midplane and the large implied stresses may play a role in how magnetic flux is lost in the actual situation in the presence of finite resistivity or ambipolar diffusion. The infall rate into the central regions is given to 5% uncertainty by the formula, $\dot M = (1+H_0)a^3/G$, where $G$ is the universal gravitational constant, anticipated by semi-analytical studies of the self-similar gravitational collapses of the singular isothermal sphere and isopedically magnetized disks. The introduction of finite initial rotation results in a complex interplay between pseudodisk and true (Keplerian) disk formation that is examined in a companion paper.