Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-5mhkq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-11T11:15:14.131Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

From molecular clouds to prestellar cores: physics of the gravitational infall, filaments and open questions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2011

A. Maury*
Affiliation:
European Southern Observatory, Karl Schwarzschild strasse 2, 85748 Garching, Germany
Get access

Abstract

In this lecture, the general properties of molecular clouds are presented, then the physics of the earliest stages of star formation is introduced thanks to a simplified stability analysis of these clouds. We later compare the outcomes of this analysis with observations of molecular clouds and point out the complex interplay of gravity, magnetic fields and turbulence necessary for the understanding of star formation processes, with a special emphasis on preliminary results from the recent Herschel Gould Belt survey.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alves, J., Lombardi, M., & Lada, C.J., 2007, A & A, 462, L17CrossRef
André, P., Men’shchikov, A., Bontemps, S., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L102CrossRef
André, P., Motte, F., & Bacmann, A., 1999, ApJ, 513, L57CrossRef
André, P., Ward-Thompson, D., & Barsony, M., 2000, Protostars and Planets IV, 59
Arquilla, R., & Goldsmith, P., 1986, ApJ, 303, 356CrossRef
Ballesteros-Paredes, J., Hartmann, L., & Vázquez-Semadeni, E., 1999, ApJ, 527, 285CrossRef
Ballesteros-Paredes, J., Klessen, R.S., Mac Low, M., & Vazquez-Semadeni, E., 2007, Protostars and Planets V, 63
Banerjee, R., Vázquez-Semadeni, E., Hennebelle, P., & Klessen, R.S., 2009, MNRAS, 398, 1082CrossRef
Bate, M., Bonnell, I., & Bromm, V., 2003, MNRAS, 339, 577CrossRef
Benson, P., & Myers, P., 1989, ApJS, 71, 89CrossRef
Blitz, L., 1993, in Protostars and Planets III, ed. Levy, E. & Lunine, J., 125Google Scholar
Blitz, L., & Shu, F.H., 1980, ApJ, 238, 148CrossRef
Blitz, L. & Williams, J.P., 1999 [ArXiv Astrophysics e-prints]
Bok, B.J., 1977, Nature, 266, 145CrossRef
Bonazzola, S., Heyvaerts, J., Falgarone, E., Perault, M., & Puget, J.L., 1987, A & A, 172, 293
Bontemps, S., André, P., Könyves, V., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L85CrossRef
Cernicharo, J., 1991, in NATO ASIC Proc. 342: The Physics of Star Formation and Early Stellar Evolution, ed. Lada, C. & Kylafis, N., 287CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chabrier, G., 2005, in Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 327, The Initial Mass Function 50 Years Later, ed. Corbelli, E., Palla, F. & Zinnecker, H., 41CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ciolek, G., & Mouschovias, T., 1994, ApJ, 425, 142CrossRef
Clausius, R., 1870, De la fonction potentielle du Potentiel, ed. Clausius, R.Google Scholar
Collins, II, G.W., 1978, The virial theorem in stellar astrophysics, ed. II Collins, G.W.Google Scholar
Crutcher, R., 1999, ApJ, 520, 706CrossRef
Crutcher, R., Nutter, D., Ward-Thompson, D., & Kirk, J., 2004, ApJ, 600, 279CrossRef
Crutcher, R., Troland, T., Lazareff, B., Paubert, G., & Kazès, I., 1999, ApJ, 514, L121CrossRef
Crutcher, R.M. 2007, in EAS Publications Series, Vol. 23 (EAS Publications Series), ed. Miville-Deschênes, M.-A. & Boulanger, F., 37Google Scholar
Crutcher, R.M., Hakobian, N., & Troland, T.H., 2009, ApJ, 692, 844CrossRef
Crutcher, R.M., Wandelt, B., Heiles, C., Falgarone, E., & Troland, T.H., 2010, ApJ, 725, 466CrossRef
Curry, C.L., 2002, ApJ, 576, 849CrossRef
Dame, T.M., Hartmann, D., & Thaddeus, P., 2001, ApJ, 547, 792CrossRef
Dobashi, K., Uehara, H., Kandori, R., et al., 2005, PASJ, 57, 1
Elmegreen, B., 2000, ApJ, 530, 277CrossRef
Elmegreen, B., & Scalo, J., 2004, ARAA, 42, 211CrossRef
Enoch, M.L., Young, K.E., Glenn, J., et al., 2006, ApJ, 638, 293CrossRef
Evans, N.J., Dunham, M.M., Jørgensen, J.K., et al., 2009, ApJS, 181, 321CrossRef
Evans, II, N.J., 2008, in Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, Vol. 390, Pathways Through an Eclectic Universe, ed. Knapen, J.H., Mahoney, T.J. & Vazdekis, A., 52Google Scholar
Falgarone, E., Troland, T., Crutcher, R., & Paubert, G., 2008, A & A, 487, 247CrossRef
Fiege, J.D., & Pudritz, R.E., 2000, MNRAS, 311, 85CrossRef
Forbrich, J., Lada, C.J., Muench, A.A., Alves, J., & Lombardi, M., 2009, ApJ, 704, 292CrossRef
Goldsmith, P.F., Heyer, M., Narayanan, G., et al., 2008, ApJ, 680, 428CrossRef
Goodman, A., Benson, P., Fuller, G., & Myers, P., 1993, ApJ, 406, 528CrossRef
Gutermuth, R.A., Bourke, T.L., Allen, L.E., et al., 2008, ApJ, 673, L151CrossRef
Hartmann, L., 2002, ApJ, 578, 914CrossRef
Hartmann, L., Ballesteros-Paredes, J., & Bergin, E., 2001, ApJ, 562, 852CrossRef
Heiderman, A., Evans, II, N.J., Allen, L.E., Huard, T., & Heyer, M., 2010, ApJ, 723, 1019CrossRef
Heiles, C., 2000, AJ, 119, 923CrossRef
Heiles, C., & Troland, T.H., 2005, ApJ, 624, 773CrossRef
Heitsch, F., & Hartmann, L., 2008, ApJ, 689, 290CrossRef
Hennebelle, P., & Chabrier, G., 2008, ApJ, 684, 395CrossRef
Heyer, M., Gong, H., Ostriker, E., & Brunt, C., 2008, ApJ, 680, 420CrossRef
Heyer, M., Krawczyk, C., Duval, J., & Jackson, J.M., 2009, ApJ, 699, 1092CrossRef
Heyer, M.H., & Terebey, S., 1998, ApJ, 502, 265CrossRef
Inutsuka, S., & Miyama, S.M., 1992, ApJ, 388, 392CrossRef
Inutsuka, S., & Miyama, S.M., 1997, ApJ, 480, 681CrossRef
Jappsen, A., Klessen, R.S., Larson, R.B., Li, Y., & Mac Low, M., 2005, A & A, 435, 611CrossRef
Jeans, J.H., 1902, R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 199, 1CrossRef
Jijina, J., Myers, P., & Adams, F., 1999, ApJS, 125, 161CrossRef
Johnstone, D., & Bally, J., 1999, ApJ, 510, L49CrossRef
Johnstone, D., Di Francesco, J., & Kirk, H., 2004, ApJ, 611, L45CrossRef
Johnstone, D., Wilson, C., Moriarty-Schieven, G., et al., 2000, ApJ, 545, 327CrossRef
Kamaya, H., 1996, ApJ, 469, L125CrossRef
Klessen, R.S., Ballesteros-Paredes, J., Li, Y., & Mac Low, M., 2004, in Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, Vol. 322, The Formation and Evolution of Massive Young Star Clusters, ed. Lamers, H.J.G.L.M., Smith, L.J. & Nota, A., 299Google Scholar
Könyves, V., André, P., Men’shchikov, A., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L106CrossRef
Kramer, C., Stutzki, J., Rohrig, R., & Corneliussen, U., 1998, A & A, 329, 249
Kristensen, L.E., Visser, R., van Dishoeck, E.F., et al., 2010, A & A, 521, L30CrossRef
Kroupa, P., 2001, MNRAS, 322, 231CrossRef
Krumholz, M.R., & Tan, J.C., 2007, ApJ, 654, 304CrossRef
Lada, C.J., Lombardi, M., & Alves, J.F., 2010, ApJ, 724, 687CrossRef
Larson, R., 1981, MNRAS, 194, 809CrossRef
Larson, R.B., 1985, MNRAS, 214, 379CrossRef
Larson, R.B., 2005, MNRAS, 359, 211CrossRef
Li, H., Blundell, R., Hedden, A., et al., 2010, MNRAS, 1823
Li, H., Dowell, C.D., Goodman, A., Hildebrand, R., & Novak, G., 2009, ApJ, 704, 891CrossRef
Li, H., Griffin, G.S., Krejny, M., et al., 2006, ApJ, 648, 340CrossRef
Lizano, S., & Shu, F., 1989, ApJ, 342, 834CrossRef
Lombardi, M., Lada, C.J., & Alves, J., 2010, A & A, 512, A67CrossRef
Lunttila, T., Padoan, P., Juvela, M., & Nordlund, Å., 2009, ApJ, 702, L37CrossRef
Mathis, J., Mezger, P., & Panagia, N., 1983, A & A, 128, 212PubMed
Matthews, B.C., & Wilson, C.D., 2000, 1434
McKee, C.F., & Ostriker, E.C., 2007, Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 45, 565CrossRef
McKee, C.F., & Williams, J.P., 1997, ApJ, 476, 144CrossRef
Men’shchikov, A., André, P., Didelon, P., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L103CrossRef
Mezger, P.O., 1978, A & A, 70, 565
Mitchell, G.F., Johnstone, D., Moriarty-Schieven, G., Fich, M., & Tothill, N.F.H., 2001, ApJ, 556, 215CrossRef
Miville-Deschênes, M., Martin, P.G., Abergel, A., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L104CrossRef
Mizuno, A., Onishi, T., Yonekura, Y., et al., 1995, ApJ, 445, L161CrossRef
Molinari, S., Swinyard, B., Bally, J., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L100CrossRef
Motte, F., & André, P., 2001, A & A, 365, 440CrossRef
Motte, F., André, P., & Neri, R., 1998, A & A, 336, 150
Motte, F., Zavagno, A., Bontemps, S., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L77CrossRef
Mouschovias, T., & Spitzer, L. Jr., 1976, ApJ, 210, 326CrossRef
Mouschovias, T.C., 1987, in NATO ASIC Proc. 210: Physical Processes in Interstellar Clouds, ed. Morfill, G.E. & Scholer, M., 453CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, N., 2010, ApJ
Murray, N., & Rahman, M., 2010, ApJ, 709, 424CrossRef
Myers, P., 2009, ApJ, 700, 1609CrossRef
Myers, P., Bachiller, R., Caselli, P., et al., 1995, ApJ, 449, L65CrossRef
Myers, P., & Goodman, A., 1988, ApJ, 326, L27CrossRef
Nakamura, F., & Li, Z., 2008, ApJ, 687, 354CrossRef
Novak, G., Dotson, J.L., & Li, H., 2009, ApJ, 695, 1362CrossRef
Nutter, D., & Ward-Thompson, D., 2007, MNRAS, 374, 1413CrossRef
Onishi, T., Kawamura, A., Abe, R., et al., 1999, PASJ, 51, 871
Onishi, T., Mizuno, A., Kawamura, A., Ogawa, H., & Fukui, Y., 1998, ApJ, 502, 296CrossRef
Ostriker, J., 1964, ApJ, 140, 1056CrossRef
Padoan, P., Jimenez, R., Juvela, M., & Nordlund, Å, 2004, ApJ, 604, L49CrossRef
Padoan, P., & Nordlund, Å., 1999, ApJ, 526, 279CrossRef
Padoan, P., & Nordlund, Å., 2002, ApJ, 576, 870CrossRef
Peretto, N., & Fuller, G.A., 2010, ApJ, 723, 555CrossRef
Peretto, N., Fuller, G.A., Plume, R., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L98CrossRef
Poidevin, F., Bastien, P., & Matthews, B.C., 2010, ApJ, 716, 893CrossRef
Rohlfs, K., & Wilson, T.L., 1996, Tools of Radio Astronomy, ed. Rohlfs, K. & Wilson, T.L.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scalo, J., & Elmegreen, B.G., 2004, ARAA, 42, 275CrossRef
Schnee, S., Li, J., Goodman, A.A., & Sargent, A.I., 2008, ApJ, 684, 1228CrossRef
Schneider, S., & Elmegreen, B.G., 1979, ApJS, 41, 87CrossRef
Shu, F., Adams, F., & Lizano, S., 1987, ARA & A, 25, 23CrossRef
Silk, J., 1989, in Lecture Notes in Physics, Berlin Springer Verlag, Vol. 331, The Physics and Chemistry of Interstellar Molecular Clouds - mm and Sub-mm Observations in Astrophysics, ed. Winnewisser, G. & Armstrong, J.T., 285Google Scholar
Solomon, P.M., Rivolo, A.R., Barrett, J., & Yahil, A., 1987, ApJ, 319, 730CrossRef
Stanke, T., Smith, M.D., Gredel, R., & Khanzadyan, T., 2006, A & A, 447, 609CrossRef
Sugitani, K., Nakamura, F., Tamura, M., et al., 2010, ApJ, 716, 299CrossRef
Sun, K., Kramer, C., Ossenkopf, V., et al., 2006, A & A, 451, 539CrossRefPubMed
Tachihara, K., Onishi, T., Mizuno, A., & Fukui, Y. 2002, A & A, 385, 909CrossRef
Tassis, K., & Mouschovias, T.C., 2004, ApJ, 616, 283CrossRef
Troland, T., & Crutcher, R., 2008, ApJ, 680, 457CrossRef
Vallee, J.P., 1994, ApJ, 433, 778CrossRef
van Dishoeck, E., Blake, G., Draine, B., & Lunine, J., 1993, in Protostars and Planets III, ed. Levy, E. & Lunine, J., 163Google Scholar
van Dishoeck, E., & Hogerheijde, M., 1999, in NATO ASIC Proc. 540: The Origin of Stars and Planetary Systems, ed. Lada, C. & Kylafis, N., 97CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Kempen, T.A., Kristensen, L.E., Herczeg, G.J., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L121CrossRef
Vázquez-Semadeni, E., Gómez, G., Jappsen, A., et al., 2007, ApJ, 657, 870CrossRef
Vázquez-Semadeni, E., Kim, J., & Ballesteros-Paredes, J., 2005, ApJ, 630, L49CrossRef
Visser, A., Richer, J., & Chandler, C., 2002, AJ, 124, 2756CrossRef
Ward-Thompson, D., Kirk, J.M., André, P., et al., 2010, A & A, 518, L92CrossRef
Williams, J., Blitz, L., & McKee, C., 2000, Protostars and Planets IV, 97
Wilson, C.D., Avery, L.W., Fich, M., et al., 1999, ApJ, 513, L139CrossRef
Wood, D., Myers, P., & Daugherty, D., 1994, ApJS, 95, 457CrossRef
Yun, J.L., & Clemens, D.P., 1990, ApJ, 365, L73CrossRef
Zuckerman, B., & Palmer, P., 1974, ARAA, 12, 279CrossRef