On the Thermal Instability in a Contracting Gas Cloud and Formation of a Bound Cluster
arXiv:astro-ph/0005362 · doi:10.1086/308917
Abstract
We perform linear analysis of thermal instability in a contracting large cloud filled with warm HI gas and investigate the effect of metallicity and radiation flux. When the cloud reaches critical density n_f, the cloud fragments into cool, dense condensations because of thermal instability. For a lower metallicity gas cloud, the value of n_f is high. Collision between condensations will produce self-gravitating clumps and stars thereafter. From the result of calculation, we suggest that high star formation efficiency and bound cluster formation are realized in low-metallicity and/or strong-radiation environments.
arXiv comment7 pages, including 7 figures, LaTeX2e(emulateapj5.sty) To appear in ApJ, Jun 10, 2000