Theoretical Studies of Star Formation: Role of Magnetic Fields and Interstellar Dust

小行星9320250 Mouschovias博士的理论研究项目的主要目标是详细、定量地研究双极扩散在大质量分子云中原恒星核的形成和收缩中的作用。 星际尘埃粒子在将磁场耦合到占主导地位的中性物质方面的作用，从而影响收缩时间，并可能影响原恒星核心的质量和大小，这将是该项目的核心。 该项目的目标将通过系统地制定和解决一系列日益复杂的物理问题来实现，首先是不需要改变数值代码的模拟，最后是需要对轴对称代码进行重大修改的模拟，以包括电离平衡的自洽计算，包括颗粒效应，在进化的每一步

9320250 Mouschovias The main objective of Dr. Mouschovias theoretical research project is a detailed, quantitative study of the role of ambipolar diffusion in the formation and contraction of protostellar cores in massive molecular clouds. The effect of interstellar dust particles in coupling the magnetic field to the dominant neutral species, and thereby affecting the contraction time and possibly the masses and sizes of protostellar cores, will be at the heart of the project. The goals of the project will be achieved through a systematic formulation and solution of a series of increasingly more complicated physical problems, beginning with simulations for which no changes in the numerical codes are needed and ending with simulations requiring substantial modification of the axisymmetric code to include a self-consistent calculation of the ionization equilibrium, including grain effects, at each time step of the evolution.