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Diamagnetic effects during the early stages of star formation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1997

H. U. RAHMAN
Affiliation:
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
D. BHATTACHARYA
Affiliation:
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA
S. RAJPOOT
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University, Long Beach, California 90840, USA
P. AMENDT
Affiliation:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California 94551, USA

Abstract

The role of magnetic fields during the initial stages of protostellar cloud collapse is investigated, in particular with respect to the scenario where the magnetic force can be an effective compressor due to diamagnetic effects. A multifluid approach involving electrons, ions of different atomic masses and neutrals is adopted, where each species is treated separately. The electron fluid is compressed by the magnetic pressure force, and the other ion species are pulled by the collective electric field developed by the space charge separation. The neutrals are also dragged owing to collisions with the ions. The difference in charge-to-mass ratio ensures that each ion species is accelerated differently, resulting in a distribution following their atomic masses. This model explores the scenario where the electromagnetic forces can achieve a supercritical mass-to-flux ratio in a magnetized cloud before dynamical collapse due to gravity takes over.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
1997 Cambridge University Press

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