Abstract Although fundamental for astrophysics, the processes that produce massive stars are not well understood. Large distances, high extinction, and short timescales of critical evolutionary phases make observations of these processes challenging. Lacking good observational guidance, theoretical models have remained controversial. This review offers a basic description of the collapse of a massive molecular core and a critical discussion of the three competing concepts of massive star formation:
| ▪ | monolithic collapse in isolated cores | ||||
| ▪ | competitive accretion in a protocluster environment | ||||
| ▪ | stellar collisions and mergers in very dense systems | ||||
We also review the observed outflows, multiplicity, and clustering properties of massive stars, the upper initial mass function and the upper mass limit. We conclude that high-mass star formation is not merely a scaled-up version of low-mass star formation with higher accretion rates, but partly a mechanism of its own, primarily owing to the role of stellar mass and radiation pressure in controlling the dynamics.
The O Associations in the Solar Neighborhood | |
| A Blaauw | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 2,
Page 213-246,
1964 | |
| | PDF (1594 KB) |
Theoretical Models of Star Formation | |
| P R Woodward | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 16,
Page 555-584,
1978 | |
| | PDF (1281 KB) |
Compact H II Regions and OB Star Formation | |
| H J Habing, F P Israel | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 17,
Page 345-383,
1979 | |
| | PDF (1318 KB) |
The Search for Infrared Protostars | |
| C G Wynn-Williams | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 20,
Page 587-618,
1982 | |
| | PDF (1200 KB) |
The Dynamical Evolution of H II Regions- Recent Theoretical Developments | |
| H W Yorke | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 24,
Page 49-87,
1986 | |
| | PDF (1215 KB) |
Star Formation in Molecular Clouds: Observation and Theory | |
| F H Shu, F C Adams, S Lizano | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 25,
Page 23-81,
1987 | |
| | PDF (1435 KB) |
The Orion Molecular Cloud and Star-Forming Region | |
| R Genzel, J Stutzki | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 27,
Page 41-85,
1989 | |
| | PDF (1480 KB) |
Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics | |
| J J Monaghan | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 30,
Page 543-574,
1992 | |
| | PDF (539 KB) |
Origin and Evolution of X-Ray Binaries and Binary Radio Pulsars | |
| F Verbunt | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 31,
Page 93-127,
1993 | |
| | PDF (1067 KB) |
Angular Momentum Evolution of Young Stars and Disks | |
| P Bodenheimer | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 33,
Page 199-238,
1995 | |
| | PDF (1081 KB) |
STAR FORMATION IN GALAXIES ALONG THE HUBBLE SEQUENCE | |
| Robert C. Kennicutt | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 36,
Page 189-231,
1998 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (360 KB) |
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS IN REGIONS OF STAR FORMATION | |
| Neal J. Evans II | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 37,
Page 311-362,
1999 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (722 KB) |
ULTRA-COMPACT HII REGIONS AND MASSIVE STAR FORMATION | |
| Ed Churchwell | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 40,
Page 27-62,
2002 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (953 KB) |
ENHANCED ANGULAR MOMENTUM TRANSPORT IN ACCRETION DISKS | |
| Steven A. Balbus | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 41,
Page 555-597,
2003 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (340 KB) |
MASSIVE STARS IN THE LOCAL GROUP: Implications for Stellar Evolution and Star Formation | |
| Philip Massey | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 41,
Page 15-56,
2003 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (444 KB) |
EMBEDDED CLUSTERS IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS | |
| Charles J. Lada, Elizabeth A. Lada | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 41,
Page 57-115,
2003 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (870 KB) |
THE FIRST STARS | |
| Volker Bromm, Richard B. Larson | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 42,
Page 79-118,
2004 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (445 KB) |
Physical Properties of Wolf-Rayet Stars | |
| Paul A. Crowther | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 45,
Page 177-219,
2007 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (766 KB) |
Theory of Star Formation | |
| Christopher F. McKee, Eve C. Ostriker | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 45,
Page 565-687,
2007 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1369 KB) |
| This review | |
|---|---|
| Toward Understanding Massive Star Formation* | |
| Hans Zinnecker, Harold W. Yorke | |
|
Volume 45,
Page 481-563,
2007 | |
Theory of Star Formation | |
| Christopher F. McKee, Eve C. Ostriker | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 45,
Page 565-687,
2007 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1369 KB) |
Cold Dark Clouds: The Initial Conditions for Star Formation | |
| Edwin A. Bergin, Mario Tafalla | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 45,
Page 339-396,
2007 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1449 KB) |
Physical Properties of Wolf-Rayet Stars | |
| Paul A. Crowther | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 45,
Page 177-219,
2007 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (766 KB) |
Magnetic Fields of Nondegenerate Stars | |
| J.-F. Donati, J.D. Landstreet | |
| Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Volume 47,
Page 333-370,
2009 | |
| Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1035 KB) |
Search for articles by the same authors or containing the same key words. Select below.
| Powered by Atypon® Literatum
|
|
