Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-01-06
Rev.Mod.Phys.76:125-194,2004
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Invited review for "Reviews of Modern Physics", 87 pages including 28 figures, in press
Scientific paper
10.1103/RevModPhys.76.125
Understanding the formation of stars in galaxies is central to much of modern astrophysics. For several decades it has been thought that stellar birth is primarily controlled by the interplay between gravity and magnetostatic support, modulated by ambipolar diffusion. Recently, however, both observational and numerical work has begun to suggest that support by supersonic turbulence rather than magnetic fields controls star formation. In this review we outline a new theory of star formation relying on the control by turbulence. We demonstrate that although supersonic turbulence can provide global support, it nevertheless produces density enhancements that allow local collapse. Inefficient, isolated star formation is a hallmark of turbulent support, while efficient, clustered star formation occurs in its absence. The consequences of this theory are then explored for both local star formation and galactic scale star formation. (ABSTRACT ABBREVIATED)
Klessen Ralf S.
Mac Low Mordecai-Mark
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