Stellar Formation
International Series in Natural Philosophy, Volume 97
- 1st Edition - January 1, 1978
- Imprint: Pergamon
- Author: V C Reddish
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 1 - 4 8 3 1 - 1 4 6 5 - 1
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 1 - 4 8 3 1 - 4 7 0 7 - 9
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… Read more
Purchase options
Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect
Request a sales quoteStellar 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.
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 ϕ(Mv)
The Initial Luminosity Function ψ(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 Stars
Part 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
Conclusion
References
Subject Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: January 1, 1978
- Imprint: Pergamon
- No. of pages: 302
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9781483114651
- eBook ISBN: 9781483147079
Read Stellar Formation on ScienceDirect