Abstract: Filamentary molecular cloud formation via collision-induced magnetic reconnection
We propose a collision-induced magnetic reconnection (CMR) mechanism for the formation of filamentary molecular clouds in the interstellar medium. We use the magnetohydrodynamics code Athena++ to simulate the collision between two diffuse clumps. The clump collision produces a narrow, straight, dense filament with a factor of >200 increase in density. The dense filament shows ring/fork-like structures consisted of dense fibers in radiative transfer maps. Cores in the filament are confined by surface magnetic pressure. CMR can be an important dense-gas-producing mechanism in the Galaxy and beyond.