Comparison of Low-Mass and High-Mass Star Formation

TL;DR

This paper reviews theoretical models of star formation across different stellar masses, focusing on massive star formation theories, their predictions, uncertainties, and recent observational insights.

Contribution

It compares various models of massive star formation, highlighting their predictions, uncertainties, and how recent observations are advancing understanding.

Findings

Different theories predict distinct initial conditions and structures.

Uncertainties remain in collapse timescales and fragmentation processes.

Recent observations are providing new constraints on models.

Abstract

I review theoretical models of star formation and how they apply across the stellar mass spectrum. Several distinct theories are under active study for massive star formation, especially Turbulent Core Accretion, Competitive Accretion and Protostellar Mergers, leading to distinct observational predictions. These include the types of initial conditions, the structure of infall envelopes, disks and outflows, and the relation of massive star formation to star cluster formation. Even for Core Accretion models, there are several major uncertainties related to the timescale of collapse, the relative importance of different processes for preventing fragmentation in massive cores, and the nature of disks and outflows. I end by discussing some recent observational results that are helping to improve our understanding of these processes.