The Astrophysical Journal · 1989 · 500 citations · 0 references
The study presents a model for the rate of low‑mass star formation in Galactic molecular clouds and its influence on cloud structure and evolution, and develops a simple model for the evolution of isolated molecular clouds. The model estimates the energy injection rate from newly formed stars, predicts its effect on cloud size, and derives mean cloud extinction and the Galactic star‑formation rate per unit mass under the equilibrium condition of photoionization‑regulated star formation. The model demonstrates that the observed star‑formation rate can support clouds against collapse and that the estimated photoionization‑regulated rate agrees with observed rates when realistic cloud parameters are used. Published in The Astrophysical Journal (1989), DOI:10.1086/167950.
view Abstract Citations (519) References (104) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Photoionization-regulated Star Formation and the Structure of Molecular Clouds McKee, Christopher F. Abstract A model for the rate of low-mass star formation in Galactic molecular clouds and for the influence of this star formation on the structure and evolution of the clouds is presented. The rate of energy injection by newly formed stars is estimated, and the effect of this energy injection on the size of the cloud is determined. It is shown that the observed rate of star formation appears adequate to support the observed clouds against gravitational collapse. The rate of photoionization-regulated star formation is estimated and it is shown to be in agreement with estimates of the observed rate of star formation if the observed molecular cloud parameters are used. The mean cloud extinction and the Galactic star formation rate per unit mass of molecular gas are predicted theoretically from the condition that photionization-regulated star formation be in equilibrium. A simple model for the evolution of isolated molecular clouds is developed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1989 DOI: 10.1086/167950 Bibcode: 1989ApJ...345..782M Keywords: Interstellar Matter; Molecular Clouds; Photoionization; Star Formation; Density Distribution; Milky Way Galaxy; Ultraviolet Radiation; Astrophysics; INTERSTELLAR: MOLECULES; INTERSTELLAR: MATTER; STARS: FORMATION full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2)