Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-02-27
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
18 pages, 7 figures and 4 color plates. A review article to appear in Protostars & Planets V (eds. Reipurth et al., Univ. Ariz
Scientific paper
Although the environments of star and planet formation are thermodynamically cold, substantial X-ray emission from 10-100 MK plasmas is present. In low mass pre-main sequence stars, X-rays are produced by violent magnetic reconnection flares. In high mass O stars, they are produced by wind shocks on both stellar and parsec scales. The recent Chandra Orion Ultradeep Project, XMM-Newton Extended Survey of Taurus, and Chandra studies of more distant high-mass star forming regions reveal a wealth of X-ray phenomenology and astrophysics. X-ray flares mostly resemble solar-like magnetic activity from multipolar surface fields, although extreme flares may arise in field lines extending to the protoplanetary disk. Accretion plays a secondary role. Fluorescent iron line emission and absorption in inclined disks demonstrate that X-rays can efficiently illuminate disk material. The consequent ionization of disk gas and irradiation of disk solids addresses a variety of important astrophysical issues of disk dynamics, planet formation, and meteoritics. New observations of massive star forming environments such as M 17, the Carina Nebula and 30 Doradus show remarkably complex X-ray morphologies including the low-mass stellar population, diffuse X-ray flows from blister HII regions, and inhomogeneous superbubbles. X-ray astronomy is thus providing qualitatively new insights into star and planet formation.
Feigelson Eric
Güdel Manuel
Stassun Keivan
Townsley Leisa
No associations
LandOfFree
X-ray Properties of Young Stars and Stellar Clusters 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 X-ray Properties of Young Stars and Stellar Clusters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-ray Properties of Young Stars and Stellar Clusters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-387553