Protostellar mass and angular momentum loss

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/160158· OSTI ID:6770947

Hartmann, L; MacGregor, K B

Recent radio observations have indicated that appreciable, continuing mass loss is occurring from regions of star formation. We investigate the conditions under which massive protostellar objects may exhibit strong, rotationally driven winds. For plausible rotational velocities and magnetic field strengths, ejection of approx.10/sup 4/ M/sub sun/ yr/sup -1/ at speeds approx.10/sup 1/--10/sup 2/ km s/sup -1/ can be maintained for time scales approx.10/sup -4/ yr; these values are insensitive to the protostellar luminosity. An evolutionary scenario is sketched which suggests that protostellar clouds may be expected to be rapidly rotating and to possess substantial magnetic fields when the clouds have contracted to radii approx. 10/sup 14/ cm. The centrifugally driven winds proposed present an alternative to fragmentation for providing the angular momentum loss required in the phase of rapid cloud contraction. Subject headings: stars: formation: stars: mass loss: stars: rotation

• Research Organization: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• OSTI ID: 6770947
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 259:1; ISSN ASJOA
• 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
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOTION
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PROTOSTARS
ROTATION
STAR EVOLUTION
STAR MODELS
STELLAR WINDS