Star formation within OB subgroups: Implosion by multiple sources

Journal Article · Mon Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/184097· OSTI ID:5501044

Klein, R I; Sanford, III, M T; Whitaker, R W

We present the results of new detailed two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamical calculations of the effects of radiation-driven shock waves from two O stars on inhomogeneities embedded in molecular clouds. The calculations indicate the neutral primordial clumps of gas with 84 M/sub sun/ can be highly compressed in 3 x 10/sup 4/ yr with density enhancements greater than 170 over ambient densities and 40 M/sub sun/ remaining. Inhomogeneities that are compressed in this manner by stars in the range O7--B0 survive ionization evaporation and may rapidly form new stars. Low-mass objects would not survive, and there would be a natural cutoff of low-mass and high-mass stars. We present a scenario for hierarchical radiation-driven implosion as a potential, new highly efficient mechanismfor star formation that may explain aspects of recent observations of new star formation in ultracompact H II regions.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Department of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5501044
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States) Vol. 271:2; 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 RADIO SOURCES
FLUID MECHANICS
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE
H2 REGIONS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAIN SEQUENCE STARS
MECHANICS
NEBULAE
SHOCK WAVES
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS