Bright-rimmed clouds with IRAS point sources: candidates for star formation by radiation-driven implosion

Abstract

We present preliminary results of a survey of bright-rimmed clouds associated with IRAS point sources.Bright-rimmed globules associated with old HII regions have long been suspected as a potential site for star formation. Physical conditions of such clouds seem to well match to models of radiation-driven implosion, which have been studied as an effective process for induced star formation (e.g. Klein et al. 1985, Bertoldi 1989). Bright-rimmed globules associated with IRAS point sources are good candidates for the sites of induced star formation. Three well-established cases of radiation-driven implosions in bright-rimmed globules (Ori I-2, IC1396-n, and L1206) were reported (Sugitani et al. 1989). Similar examples were also reported in HH46/47 (Olberg et al. 1989) and in GN21.38.9 (Duvert et al. 1990). However, the samples are still not numerous enough to establish comprehensive understanding of star formation by such implosion process.