The Origin Of StarsWhere do stars come from and how do they form? These are profound questions which link the nature of our Universe to the roots of mankind. Yet, until a recent revolution in understanding, the proposed answers have been raw speculation. Now, accompanying penetrating observations, a new picture has come into prominence.This book presents the latest astounding observations and scientific ideas covering star formation, star birth and early development. It encompasses all aspects, from the dramatic stories of individual objects, to the collective influence of entire stellar systems.The very first stars to come into existence and the nurturing of planets are discussed to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview. Presenting background information with only the essential mathematics, this book will appeal to scientists wishing to expand their horizons, students seeking solid foundations, and general readers with enquiring minds./a |
Contents
1 | |
2 The Physics and Chemistry | 9 |
3 The Clouds | 31 |
4 Cloud Formation Evolution and Destruction | 53 |
5 Turbulence | 69 |
6 The Collapse | 87 |
7 The Magnetic Mediation | 101 |
8 The Birth | 119 |
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Common terms and phrases
accretion disk accretion rate Alfvén waves ambipolar diffusion angular momentum atomic binary bipolar outflows brown dwarfs Class I protostars classical clumps clusters collapse collisions compressed dense density detected dispersion distribution dust dynamical envelope equilibrium evolution evolve field lines flow flux fragmentation free-fall Galactic galaxies GMCs HII regions hydrogen infall infrared instability interact interstellar medium ionisation Jeans mass km sº low-mass stars luminosity magnetic field main sequence mass stars massive stars material molecular clouds molecules motions near-infrared Nebula objects observed Ophiuchus optical Orion parsecs photons photosphere planets predicted pressure produced protostar protostellar core radiation radius range redshift rotation scale shock waves simulations solar solar mass sound speed spectral spin star formation starbursts starless cores stars form stellar structure supernova supersonic turbulence surface Tauri stars temperature theory thermal timescale trigger typical velocity virial wavelengths wind young stars