Star Formation Thresholds

Details Star Formation Thresholds Star Formation Thresholds

2007-08-24

arxiv.org/abs/0708.3366v1

2008, IAUS, 244, 247

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

9 pages and 3 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of IAU Symp. 244 on "Dark Galaxies and Lost Baryons", eds. J. I. Davies &

Scientific paper

10.1017/S1743921307014056

To make predictions for the existence of ``dark galaxies'', it is necessary to understand what determines whether a gas cloud will form stars. Star formation thresholds are generally explained in terms of the Toomre criterion for gravitational instability. I contrast this theory with the thermo-gravitational instability hypothesis of Schaye (2004), in which star formation is triggered by the formation of a cold gas phase and which predicts a nearly constant surface density threshold. I argue that although the Toomre analysis is useful for the global stability of disc galaxies, it relies on assumptions that break down in the outer regions, where star formation thresholds are observed. The thermo-gravitational instability hypothesis can account for a number of observed phenomena, some of which were thought to be unrelated to star formation thresholds.

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