Binary Star Formation

阿兰·AST96-16093最近的观测证据表明，恒星是成对形成的，或者是双星系统，而不是像太阳那样单独形成。形成双星所需的条件知之甚少，大多数理论模型都集中在研究单星形成上。博斯博士将通过对导致双星形成的过程进行研究来纠正这种情况。他的计划将提高对分子云中原恒星坍塌时发生的碎裂过程的理解，他的理论模型将包括质量吸积、轨道合并和初始磁场等效应，这些效应以前在理论处理中被忽视，但被认为具有潜在的重要性。他的工作将跟踪双星碎片的轨道演化，时间比模型中的典型时间要长得多，因为碎片与残留的圆盘和云层相互作用。博斯的工作与观测密切相关，无论是通过他的模型的初始条件，还是通过计算原恒星碎片的线发射，以便与恒星形成区的观测进行比较。他的结果还将有助于确定原恒星碎片的最小质量，这与褐矮星和巨行星之间的区分有关，并将解释最近观测到的伴星与太阳类型恒星的关系。***

Boss, Alan AST 96-16093 Recent observational evidence indicates that stars form in pairs, or as binary systems, rather than singly, like our sun. Conditions required to form binary stars are poorly understood, and most theoretical modeling has concentrated on studying single star formation. Dr. Boss will rectify this situation by carrying out research into the processes that lead to binary star formation. His program will improve understanding of the fragmentation process which occurs during protostellar collapse in molecular clouds, and his theoretical models will include effects such as mass accretion, orbital mergers and initial magnetic fields, all previously neglected in theoretical treatments, but recognized to be potentially important. His work will follow the orbital evolution of the binary fragments for much longer times than is typical in models, as the fragments interact with the residual disk and cloud envelope. Dr. Boss's work is closely tied to observations, both through the initial conditions of his models and through the resulting calculation of line emission from the protostellar fragments for comparison with observations of star-forming regions. His results will also allow the determination of the minimum mass of a protostellar fragment, which has bearing on the discrimination between brown dwarf stars and giant planets, and the interpretation of recent observational detection of companions to solar-type stars. ***