Bibcode
DOI
Tenorio-Tagle, G.; Muñoz-Tuñon, C.; Cox, Donald P.
Bibliographical reference
Astrophysical Journal v.418, p.767
Advertised on:
12
1993
Citations
40
Refereed citations
34
Description
Models of the origin of spheroidal stellar systems, or cluster formation
scenarios, need to account for empirical correlations both between scale
and velocity dispersion σ and between luminosity and σ found
in star-forming regions and relaxed spheroidal stellar systems. The
model here proposed accounts for both correlations if the stellar system
formation follows a particular sequence. This requires that the
quasi-static collapse of a protocluster cloud be halted as soon as stars
begin to form, and this occurs once fragments acquire stellar sizes, if
the fragment temperature remains at a constant value of about 10 K. The
collection of pre-mainsequence low-mass stars undergoing winds while
moving with a velocity dispersion σ* will soon stir the
remaining cloud, providing it with an average turbulent motion
σgas σ*. The cloud agitation is here
proposed to be caused by the endless supersonic passage of isothermal
bow shocks, or "cometary" shocks, generated by the stellar wind sources
ramming through the leftover cloud. These maintain supersonic turbulence
and lead also to a distinct structure of the remaining cloud. This
mechanism leads to an estimate of the total wind power required and the
corresponding cluster luminosity. The latter agrees with observations
both in general magnitude and in its correlation with velocity
dispersion (Lcluster σ σ4).
Following stability, star formation continues, at least at the rate
needed to keep the cloud from collapsing any further until the birth of
massive stars, which by means of photoionization heat up the remaining
matter and inhibit any further star formation, and thus mark the end of
cluster formation. H II regions produced by massive clusters will
display broad lines reflecting the supersonic σgas
acquired from the cometary passage of the wind-driven sources.
Afterward, the supersonic H II region expansion, and/or any further
localized major input of energy, such as supernova explosions, will
rapidly lead to larger velocities and to the removal of gas from the
starr-forming region, causing broader but lower intensity emission
lines. The model is confronted with recent data on giant H II regions
showing excellent qualitative and quantitative agreement.