Rosolowsky, ErikGoodman, AlyssaWilner, DavidWilliams, Jonathan2019-09-241999Rosolowsky, Erik W., Alyssa A. Goodman, David J. Wilner, and Jonathan P. Williams. 1999. “The Spectral Correlation Function: A New Tool for Analyzing Spectral Line Maps.” The Astrophysical Journal 524 (2): 887–94. https://doi.org/10.1086/307863.0004-637X1538-4357http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41397405The "spectral correlation function" analysis we introduce in this paper is a new tool for analyzing spectral line data cubes. Our initial tests, carried out on a suite of observed and simulated data cubes, indicate that the spectral correlation function (SCF) is likely to be a more discriminating statistic than other statistical methods normally applied. The SCF is a measure of similarity between neighboring spectra in the data cube. When the SCF is used to compare a data cube consisting of spectral line observations of the interstellar medium (ISM) with a data cube derived from MI-ID simulations of molecular clouds, it can find differences that are not found by other analyses. The initial results presented here suggest that the inclusion of self-gravity in numerical simulations is critical for reproducing the correlation behavior of spectra in star-forming molecular clouds.en-USJournal Article2019-09-2410.1086/307863