The complex multiscale structure in simulated and observed emission maps of the proto-cluster cloud G0.253+0.016 (‘the Brick’)

ABSTRACT The Central Molecular Zone (the central ∼500 pc of the Milky Way) hosts molecular clouds in an extreme environment strong shear, high gas pressure and density, complex chemistry. G0.253+0.016, also known as ‘the Brick’, is densest, most compact, quiescent these clouds. High-resolution observations with Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) have revealed its complex, hierarchical structure. In this paper we compare properties recent hydrodynamical simulations Brick to those ALMA observations. To facilitate comparison, post-process create synthetic maps line emission from eight molecules. We correlate each other mass column density find that HNCO best tracer lines within simulations. Additionally, characterize spatial structure observed simulated cloud using probability distribution function (PDF), power spectrum, fractal dimension, moments inertia. While good agreement between data terms spectra dimensions, there are key differences PDFs inertia, which attribute omission magnetic fields This demonstrates presence Galactic potential can reproduce many properties, but additional physical processes needed fully explain