Star Formation

TL;DR

This paper reviews the physical processes, observational stages, and statistical properties of low-mass star formation in molecular clouds at redshift zero, highlighting the complexities introduced by multiplicity.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of star formation mechanisms, protostellar evolution, and the impact of multiplicity, integrating recent observational and theoretical insights.

Findings

Star formation is regulated by turbulence and magnetic fields.

Protostellar stages are characterized and observed in detail.

Multiplicity significantly affects star formation processes.

Abstract

In this chapter, we will cover how stars form from the stellar nurseries that are giant molecular clouds. We will first review the physical processes that compete to regulate star formation. We then review star formation in turbulent, magnetized molecular clouds and the associated statistics giving rise to the star formation rate and the initial mass function of stars. We then present the protostellar stages in detail from an observational perspective. We will primarily discuss low-mass ($<1.5\msun$) stars. Finally, we examine how multiplicity complicates the single-star formation picture. This chapter will focus on star formation at redshift~0