2000/01/07 by Lee Hartmann, Hartmann, Lee
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #FOS: Physical sciences #Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/0001125
10 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of 33rd ESLAB Symposium, "Star formation from the small to the large scale", F. Favata, A.A. Kaas, and A. Wilson eds., ESA SP-445
arxiv created 2000/01/07 · openalex publication_date 2000/01/07 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The Taurus molecular cloud complex is the paradigm for quiescent, low-density, isolated star formation. Yet the age distribution of its stellar population indicates that star formation is a rapid and dynamic process, inconsistent with the old picture of magnetically-controlled protostellar cloud collapse. Instead, Taurus seems to have formed stars in a manner qualitatively consistent with the rapid cloud formation and dispersal inferred for other, higher-density star-forming regions. I suggest that the Taurus clouds were formed rapidly by the collision of atomic gas streams in the interstellar medium, and that star formation ensued immediately afterward.