Origin of the Solar System

Contents Contributors Preface and Introduction Historical Review of Theories of the Origin of the Solar System I. Descartes' Vortex Theory II. The First Tidal Theory III. The Nebular Hypothesis: Kant IV. The Nebular Hypothesis : LaPlace V. The Influence of Electric and Magnetic Effects VI. Modern Tidal Theories VII. The Binary and Triple Star Theories VIII. A Revival of Kant's Theory IX. Again the Solar Magnetic Field X. The Supernova Hypothesis XI. The Role of Turbulence XII. The Dust-Cloud Hypothesis XIII. Gravitational Instability in the Solar Nebula XIV. An Extension of von Weizsäker's Theory XV. The Russian School of Cosmogony XVI. Evidence from the Meteorites XVII. Recent Developments and Future Prospects References Star Formation I. Introduction II. Environment of Star Formation III. Stages in Star Formation IV. Stage One-Formation of Interstellar Clouds V. Start of Second Stage-Instability of Protostar VI. Development of Second Stage-Collapse and Fragmentation VII. Stage Three-Helmholtz Contraction of Protostar VIII. Stage Four-Second Collapse Contraction of the Sun toward the Main Sequence Formation of the Planets Dissipation of the Solar Nebula Formation of Light Nuclei The Formation of the Solar Nebula Meteorites and the Early History of the Solar System I. Introduction II. Early Thermal History of Meteoritic Matter III. Primordial Noble Gases IV. Chemical Fractionations in Chondrites V. Extinct Radioactivity and General Isotopic Anomalies VI. Conclusions References Properties of Chondrules-I Properties of Chondrules-II The Interiors of the Planets Problems Requiring Solution Subject Index