Stellar Formation
International Series in Natural Philosophy, Volume 97
Published on 22. October 2013
302 pages
978-1-4831-4707-9 (ISBN)
Description
Stellar Formation brings together knowledge about the formation of stars. In seeking to determine the conditions necessary for star formation, this book examines questions such as how, where, and why stars form, and at what rate and with what properties. This text also considers whether the formation of a star is an accident or an integral part of the physical properties of matter. This book consists of 13 chapters divided into two sections and begins with an overview of theories that explain star formation as well as the state of knowledge of star formation in comparison to stellar structure and evolution. The places in which stars are forming are then analyzed by focusing on the distributions of very young stars, globules, and cloud fragments. The relationship between the distributions of stars and interstellar clouds is also considered. The chapters that follow explore the frequency distribution of stellar masses as well as the masses of aggregates of stars and interstellar clouds. The reader is also introduced to the rate and environment of star formation; the cloud-like structure of the interstellar gas; the ordering of interstellar clouds into spiral arms; and the conditions under which a cloud will contract until it is set inevitably on the route to becoming a star. The remaining chapters examine the fragmentation of clouds into protostars and the evolution of galaxies. This text will be of interest to students and practitioners of astronomy.
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Content
Part 1: Data Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Locations of Star Formation The Distribution of Young Stars The Distribution of Interstellar Gas, Clouds and Globules Spatial Relationships between Young Stars and Interstellar Matter Summary Chapter 3. The Frequency Distribution of Stellar Masses The Luminosity Function ¿(Mv) The Initial Luminosity Function ¿(Mv) The Initial Mass-Luminosity Relation The Initial Mass Function Summary Chapter 4. The Frequency Distribution of the Masses of Aggregates of Stars Chapter 5. The Frequency Distribution of Cloud Masses Interstellar Call Absorption Lines 21 cm Hydrogen Line Emission Dust Clouds Chapter 6. The Rate of Star Formation Some Analytical Relationships The Rate of Star Formation in Galaxies as a Function of Gas Content, from Bright Star Counts and 21 cm Hydrogen Line Measurements Dependence of the Rate of Star Formation on Gas Density Chapter 7. The Environment of Star Formation Molecular Hydrogen in the Galaxy Interstellar and Circumstellar Obscuration Temperatures in Pre-Stellar Clouds Interstellar Magentic Fields Motions of the Interstellar Gas Element Abundances in the Interstellar Gas Element Abundances in the StarsPart 2: Theory Chapter 8. Cloud Structure in the Interstellar Gas The Maintenance of a Cloud Structure The Generation of a Cloud Structure Chapter 9. The Ordering of Clouds into Spiral Arms The Maintenance of Spiral Density Waves The Origin of Spiral Density Waves Ejection from Galactic Nuclei Mass Arms Spiral Arms in relation to Star Formation Chapter 10. Conditions for Contraction of Clouds Gas Pressure, Turbulence and Rotation Radiation Pressure Magnetic Pressure Chapter 11. The Fragmentation of Clouds into Protostars and the Frequency Distribution of Protostar Masses Random Fragmentation Hierarchal Fragmentation Fragmentation Induced by Molecule Formation Other Theories Summary Chapter 12. The Rate of Formation of Stars Gravitational Turbulence Molecule Formation Chapter 13. The Evolution of Galaxies Star Formation in the Protogalaxy, Controlling Influences of Grains and Molecules Model Calculations Other Models and Analyses, Grain temperature, Mass/Luminosity Ratios, Origin of Galaxy Types, Chemical Evolution, Evolution within Galaxies ConclusionReferencesSubject Index
