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An Observational Perspective of Low-Mass Dense Cores II: Evolution Toward the Initial Mass Function (2007)
| Venue: | Protostars and Planets V |
| Citations: | 2 - 0 self |
BibTeX
@INPROCEEDINGS{Ward-thompson07anobservational,
author = {Derek Ward-thompson and Service D’astrophysique De Saclay and Richard Crutcher and Doug Johnstone and Toshikazu Onishi and Christine Wilson},
title = {An Observational Perspective of Low-Mass Dense Cores II: Evolution Toward the Initial Mass Function},
booktitle = {Protostars and Planets V},
year = {2007},
pages = {33--46}
}
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Abstract
We review the properties of low mass dense molecular cloud cores, including starless, prestellar, and Class 0 protostellar cores, as derived from observations. In particular we discuss them in the context of the current debate surrounding the formation and evolution of cores. There exist several families of model scenarios to explain this evolution (with many variations of each) that can be thought of as a continuum of models lying between two extreme paradigms for the star and core formation process. At one extreme there is the dynamic, turbulent picture, while at the other extreme there is a slow, quasi-static vision of core evolution. In the latter view the magnetic field plays a dominant role, and it may also play some role in the former picture. Polarization and Zeeman measurements indicate that some, if not all, cores contain a significant magnetic field. Wide-field surveys constrain the timescales of the core formation and evolution processes, as well as the statistical distribution of core masses. The former indicates that prestellar cores typically live for 2–5 free-fall times, while the latter seems to determine the stellar initial mass function. In addition, multiple surveys allow one to compare core properties in different regions. From this it appears that aspects of different models may be relevant to different star-forming regions, depending on the environment. Prestellar cores
Keyphrases
low-mass dense core ii initial mass function observational perspective prestellar core multiple survey exist several family zeeman measurement extreme paradigm latter view core formation process current debate former picture protostellar core wide-field survey core formation quasi-static vision different region different star-forming region statistical distribution magnetic field core property different model dominant role evolution process stellar initial mass function many variation model scenario turbulent picture significant magnetic field free-fall time core evolution core mass
