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** Note: this is a combined Theory Group/LMA seminar (feb 4/5) *
The seminars will provide a guide to contemporary understanding of star formation, outlining current theory and the observations that motivate it. A conception of star formation has emerged in which turbulence plays a dual role, both creating overdensities to initiate gravitational contraction or collapse, and countering the effects of gravity in these overdense regions. The key dynamical processes involved in star formation -- turbulence, magnetic fields, and self-gravity -- are highly nonlinear and multidimensional. Physical arguments are used to identify and explain the features and scalings involved in star formation, and results from numerical simulations are used to quantify these effects. After a discussion of basic physical processes, star formation on small scales and large scales will be reviewed in turn. The issues covered will include how cores form and evolve within giant molecular clouds (GMCs), and how GMCs themselves form and evolve within spiral galaxies. Important problems includes what determines the initial mass function of stars, and what determines the overall star formation rate. Although outstanding questions remain, the framework is now in place to build a comprehensive theory of star formation.
The talks will be based on my 2007 ARAA review with Chris McKee.
A link to the ADS listing of the paper is available at:
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007ARA%26A..45..565M
Also, since ARAA does not include tables of contents this is available at:
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~ostriker/publications/MO2007_TOC.pdf
The topics of the CARMA seminar include the solar system, star formation, the interstellar medium, galactic structure and galaxies. All are welcome to attend. Seminars will be limited to 1 hour including questions.
LMA Phone Number: (301) 405-1502Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
Parking for visitors is available in the Cashier-Attended Parking Lot at the intersection of Paint Branch & Technology Drive. It is a 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot to the Computer & Space Sciences building.
There are a limited number of parking meters in Lot DD; there are no parking meters in Parking Garage 2. Parking at non-metered spaces in Lot DD and PG2 is free after 4 pm and on weekends.
More information is available from the Department of Campus Parking.
Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742-2421 Phone: (301) 405-3001 FAX: (301) 314-9067 Comments and questions may be directed to webmaster@astro.umd.edu
This page was automatically generated on:
30-Jan-2008.
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