| Astronomers Reveal New Insights into Formation of High-Mass Stars |
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| By [Author] |
A group of astronomers has conducted a study on 39 interstellar clouds to gain a deeper understanding of the formation of high-mass stars. These clouds are known to be the birthplace of such stars, and the findings of this research call for a revision of existing theories on the formation of low-mass stars.
High-mass stars are of great significance in the evolution of the Universe as they release heavy elements and generate shockwaves during supernova explosions. Despite their importance, the mechanisms behind the formation of such stars remain poorly understood due to their rarity. The study, conducted by scientists led by Kaho Meria, Patricio, and Fumitak Nakamura, utilized the ALMA radiotelescope to observe 39 infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) where large-mass stars are believed to form.
Researchers focused their attention on clouds that showed no signs of star formation, aiming to study the initial stages of this process. Surprisingly, they discovered over 800 “star seeds” or molecular cloud nuclei within these clouds, which are expected to eventually evolve into stars.
An analysis of these nuclei revealed that 99% of them lack the necessary mass to develop into high-mass stars, assuming their evolution follows the same patterns as low-mass stars. These findings support the theory that diverse mechanisms govern the formation of stars with varying masses.
The distribution of the nuclei within the clouds was also studied. It was observed that high-mass stars tend to cluster together in star clusters, while low-mass stars are more evenly distributed. However, the study discovered that dense nuclei, rather than the most massive ones, have a tendency to be locally concentrated. This suggests that dense nuclei may be the precursors of high-mass stars.