Star formation in the M17 SW giant molecular cloud

Journal Article · Tue Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183812· OSTI ID:5027460

Jaffe, D T; Fazio, G G

We have used a far-infrared survey to the M17 SW giant molecular cloud complex, excerpted from the survey of Jaffe, Steir, and Fazio, to investigate OB star formation mechanisms. The excerpted survey represents the first high-resolution, high-senstivity far-infrared study of an entire cloud complex. There are 13 far-infrared sources within the 20 km s/sup -1/ M17 SW giant molecular cloud complex. We summarize the far-infrared, radio continuum, CO, and H/sub 2/ observations of these 13 sources. We discuss and evaluate three mechanisms for the formation of OB stars within the giant molecular cloud and conclude that sequential formation of the OB clusters probably cannot explain the sources we now see within the complex. Both external triggering by a spiral shock and stochiastic formation are reasonabl explanations of the observations.

• Research Organization: Enrico Fermi Institute, The University of Chicago
• OSTI ID: 5027460
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 25:72; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC GASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FAR INFRARED RADIATION
FLUIDS
GASES
INFRARED RADIATION
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
RADIATIONS
SHOCK WAVES
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS