How Does Star Formation Affect the Large Scale Structure of the ISM?

Abstract

Nearly all the star formation in the Milky Way and nearby spiral galaxies occurs in the giant molecular clouds (GMC). Inside the GMC's the units of star formation are the high density (≥ 103cm–3) and high mass (≥ 103M⊙) clumps (Blitz, 1991). Once a GMC is “infected” by star formation many clumps form stars producing a star forming region. The formation of massive stars induces destructive processes, such as H2 dissociation, HI ionization, stellar winds and supernova explosions, thus self-limiting the lifetime of GMC to ∼ 3 107 years.