Published in

IOP Publishing, Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 5(11), p. 545-562, 2011

DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/11/5/005

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Shock fragmentation model for gravitational collapse

Journal article published in 2008 by Michael Wilkinson, Bernhard Mehlig ORCID, Michael A. Morgan
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Upload
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Policy details
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

A cloud of gas collapsing under gravity will fragment. We present a new theory for this process, in which layers shocked gas fragment due to their gravitational instability. Our model explains why angular momentum does not inhibit the collapse process. The theory predicts that the fragmentation process produces objects which are significantly smaller than most stars, implying that accretion onto the fragments plays an essential role in determining the initial masses of stars. This prediction is also consistent with the hypothesis that planets can be produced by gravitational collapse. ; Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures