Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2004-07-13
Astrophys.J. 620 (2005) L19-L22
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
ApJL accepted, version with high quality color images can be found in http://research.amnh.org/~yuexing/astro-ph/0407247.pdf
Scientific paper
10.1086/428497
We study gravitational instability and consequent star formation in a wide range of isolated disk galaxies, using three-dimensional, smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations at resolution sufficient to fully resolve gravitational collapse. Stellar feedback is represented by an isothermal equation of state. Absorbing sink particles are inserted in dynamically bound, converging regions with number density $n > 10^3$ cm$^{-3}$ to directly measure the mass of gravitationally collapsing gas available for star formation. Our models quantitatively reproduce not only the observed Schmidt law, but also the observed star formation threshold in disk galaxies. Our results suggest that the dominant physical mechanism determining the star formation rate is just the strength of gravitational instability, with feedback primarily functioning to maintain a roughly constant effective sound speed.
Klessen Ralf S.
Li Yuexing
Mac Low Mordecai-Mark
No associations
LandOfFree
Control of Star Formation in Galaxies by Gravitational Instability 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 Control of Star Formation in Galaxies by Gravitational Instability, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Control of Star Formation in Galaxies by Gravitational Instability will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-140473