Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation

Details Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation

2009-02-20

arxiv.org/abs/0902.3617v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

3 pages, white paper submitted to Planetary Systems and Star Formation (PSF) panel

Scientific paper

The major questions relevant to star and planet formation are: What controls the rate, efficiency, spatial clustering, multiplicity, and initial mass function of star formation, now and in the past? What are the major feedback mechanisms through which star formation affects its environment? What controls the formation and orbital parameters of planets, especially terrestrial planets? These questions cannot be fully addressed without understanding key magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and plasma physics processes. Although some of these basic problems have long been considered intractable, attacking them through a combination of laboratory experiment, theory, and numerical simulation is now feasible, and would be fruitful. Achieving a better understanding of these processes is critical to interpreting observations, and will form an important component of astrophysical models. These models in turn will serve as inputs to other areas of astrophysics, e.g. cosmology and galaxy formation.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-671501