An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A star formation scenario whereby → massive stars form from gravitationally bound → pre-stellar cores, which are supersonically → turbulent and in approximate pressure equilibrium with the surrounding protocluster medium. The high → accretion rates that characterize such media allow accretion to overcome the radiation pressure due to the luminosity of the star. The core is assumed to → collapse via an → accretion disk to form a single star or binary. The core density structure adopted is ρ ∝ r^-k, with k = 1.5 set from observations. This choice affects the evolution of the accretion rate, which increases linearly with time. The high densities in regions of massive-star formation lead to typical time scales for the formation of a massive star of about 10⁵ years (McKee & Tan 2003, ApJ 585, 850).

See also: → turbulent; → core.