The Origin of Stars and Planetary Systems (Nato Science Series C:, 540)

A few years after the publication of The Physics of Star Formation and Early Stellar Evolution, we received a request from the publisher for an up­ dated second edition of this popular reference book. As originally intended, the volume had proved to be a useful "text" book for graduate astronomy courses and seminars which dealt with topics related to stellar origins. The book was based on a series of lectures delivered by a distinguished group of leading researchers at a NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) held in May 1990 on the island of Crete, Greece. The primary goal of the ASI was in fact to produce a book which "would simultaneously provide a broad and systematic overview of, as well as a rigorous introduction to, the fun­ damental physics and astronomy at the heart of modern research in star formation and early stellar evolution. " However, by 1995 concern had arisen among those who used the text as a reference for graduate seminars and courses that the book would need to be updated to stay abreast of the discoveries and progress in this rapidly evolving field. After some discussion we concluded that a new edition of the book was warranted and that the goal of producing a new edition would be best accomplished by organizing a second ASI in Crete to review the progress in star formation research. The Origin Of Stars And Planetary Systems Is A Collection Of Tutorial Reviews That Critically And Systematically Discuss The Current State Of Our Knowledge Of Star Formation And Early Stellar Evolution, From The Genesis Of Giant Molecular Clouds To The Birth Of Young Stars And Their Surrounding Planetary Systems. The Chapters Are Written At The Graduate Student Level By A Group Of Twenty Internationally Distinguished Scientists. The Emphasis Is On Fundamentals Rather Than Recent Research Results. The Book Thus Provides A Rigorous Treatment Of The Basic Empirical And Theoretical Foundations Of Modern Star Formation Research. The Book Is A Unique Reference, Based On The Authors' Own Pioneering Research. Readership: Primary Or Supplementary Text For Graduate Courses On Star Formation. Basic Reference For Professional Scientists Needing A Solid Background In The Area. Molecular Clouds / Leo Blitz And Jonathan P. Williams -- The Dynamical Structure And Evolution Of Giant Molecular Clouds / Christopher F. Mckee -- Physical Conditions In Nearby Molecular Clouds / Philip C. Myers -- Models And Observations Of The Chemistry Near Young Stellar Objects / Ewine F. Van Dishoeck And Michiel R. Hogerheijde -- The Formation Of Low Mass Stars: An Observational Overview / Charles J. Lada -- Low-mass Star Formation: Theory / Frank H. Shu, Anthony Allen And Hsien Shang / [and Others] -- Bipolar Molecular Outflows / R. Bachiller And M. Tafalla -- Herbig-haro Flows / Bo Reipurth And A.c. Raga -- Magnetic Fields And Star Formation: A Theory Reaching Adulthood / Telemachos Ch. Mouschovias And Glenn E. Ciolek -- The Nature Of Young Solar-type Stars / Francois Menard And Claude Bertout -- The Evolution Of Pre-main-sequence Stars / Francesco Palla -- Ob Associations / A.g.a. Brown, A. Blaauw And R. Hoogerwerf / [and Others]. Edited By Charles J. Lada And Nikolaos D. Kylafis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A few years after the publication of The Physics of Star Formation and Early Stellar Evolution, we received a request from the publisher for an upƯ dated second edition of this popular reference book. As originally intended, the volume had proved to be a useful "text" book for graduate astronomy courses and seminars which dealt with topics related to stellar origins. The book was based on a series of lectures delivered by a distinguished group of leading researchers at a NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) held in May 1990 on the island of Crete, Greece. The primary goal of the ASI was in fact to produce a book which "would simultaneously provide a broad and systematic overview of, as well as a rigorous introduction to, the funƯ damental physics and astronomy at the heart of modern research in star formation and early stellar evolution." However, by 1995 concern had arisen among those who used the text as a reference for graduate seminars and courses that the book would need to be updated to stay abreast of the discoveries and progress in this rapidly evolving field. After some discussion we concluded that a new edition of the book was warranted and that the goal of producing a new edition would be best accomplished by organizing a second ASI in Crete to review the progress in star formation research Front Matter....Pages i-xxxiv Front Matter....Pages 1-2 Molecular Clouds....Pages 3-28 The Dynamical Structure and Evolution of Giant Molecular Clouds....Pages 29-66 Physical Conditions in Nearby Molecular Clouds....Pages 67-96 Models and Observations of the Chemistry Near Young Stellar Objects....Pages 97-140 Front Matter....Pages 141-142 The Formation of Low Mass Stars....Pages 143-192 Low-Mass Star Formation: Theory....Pages 193-226 Bipolar Molecular Outflows....Pages 227-266 Herbig-Haro Flows....Pages 267-304 Magnetic Fields and Star Formation: A Theory Reaching Adulthood....Pages 305-340 The Nature of Young Solar-Type Stars....Pages 341-374 The Evolution of Pre-Main-Sequence Stars....Pages 375-409 Front Matter....Pages 410-410 OB Associations....Pages 411-440 The Role of Embedded Clusters in Star Formation....Pages 441-478 Multiple Stellar Systems: From Binaries to Clusters....Pages 479-514 Massive Star Formation....Pages 515-552 Masers in Star-Forming Regions....Pages 553-576 Front Matter....Pages 577-578 Circumstellar Disks....Pages 579-612 Accretion Disks and Eruptive Phenomena....Pages 613-642 The Formation of Planets....Pages 643-680 Extrasolar Planets: Techniques, Results, and the Future....Pages 681-708 Back Matter....Pages 709-718