Plasma Astrophysics Problems in Star and Planet Formation

TL;DR

This paper discusses how understanding plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics is essential for solving key questions in star and planet formation, emphasizing experimental, theoretical, and numerical approaches.

Contribution

It highlights the importance of integrating laboratory experiments, theory, and simulations to address fundamental plasma physics problems in astrophysics.

Findings

Laboratory experiments can simulate astrophysical plasma processes.

Numerical simulations are crucial for modeling star and planet formation.

Understanding plasma physics enhances interpretation of astrophysical observations.

Abstract

The major questions relevant to star and planet formation are: What controls the rate, efficiency, spatial clustering, multiplicity, and initial mass function of star formation, now and in the past? What are the major feedback mechanisms through which star formation affects its environment? What controls the formation and orbital parameters of planets, especially terrestrial planets? These questions cannot be fully addressed without understanding key magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and plasma physics processes. Although some of these basic problems have long been considered intractable, attacking them through a combination of laboratory experiment, theory, and numerical simulation is now feasible, and would be fruitful. Achieving a better understanding of these processes is critical to interpreting observations, and will form an important component of astrophysical models. These models in turn will serve as inputs to other areas of astrophysics, e.g. cosmology and galaxy formation.