On the Fragmentation of Self-Gravitating Gas Clouds.

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (72) References (7) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS On the Fragmentation of Self-Gravitating Gas Clouds. Layzer, David Abstract Much of current cosmogonic thinking is based on the idea that a more or less homogeneous, selfgravitating gas cloud can, under appropriate conditions, break up into a collection of seff-gravitating subsystems. Attempts to justify this idea theoretically have usually employed linearized stability theory. This paper shows, however, that the stability of a more or less homogeneous cloud against fragmentation hinges, in fact, on certain non4inear processes. A semi-quantitative treatment of these processes lends strong support to the conclusion that fragmentation cannot occur under circumstances likely to be realized in nature. The paper also points out that fragmentation is not the only available hypothesis on which to base theories for the formation of stars and galaxies and shows, by means of an example, that the difficulties confronting the fragmentation hypothesis are avoidable. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: February 1963 DOI: 10.1086/147515 Bibcode: 1963ApJ...137..351L full text sources ADS |