Astronomers have discovered that massive stars form from gas clouds that collapse under the force of gravity.

Massive stars are crucial to the life of the universe, and their evolution is typically linked to the surrounding interstellar gas. Unlike their smaller counterparts, these stars form under conditions that differ from those previously described by astronomers. This conclusion was reached by a team of scientists from the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

2024-10-24 07:30:18https://naked-science.ru/article/astronomy/massivnye-zvezdy

Massive stars are classified as those of types O and B, whose mass exceeds eight times that of our Sun. The lifespan of such celestial bodies is relatively short, and their temperature is high.

In studying the processes of massive star formation, astronomers have proposed a variety of potential scenarios. For instance, most previous research was based on the theory that gas clouds must be in a state of equilibrium to form massive stars, meaning they are prevented from collapsing by turbulence and magnetic fields.

However, the results of a new scientific study, published in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters, revealed that massive stars arise from dense gas clouds. These clouds collapse under the influence of their own gravity—unless strong magnetic fields oppose this process.

A team of scientists led by astrophysicist Ke Wang conducted a thorough analysis of 44 massive star "embryos" in regions where star formation has not yet begun. Utilizing data obtained from the 100-meter Green Bank radio telescope, astronomers identified key parameters of these regions: gas velocity, temperature, density, and other characteristics.

The researchers also found that the turbulence level of many observed gas clouds is relatively low. This contradicts leading theoretical models that suggest high turbulence levels prevent gravitational collapse.

Strong magnetic fields also play a significant role in preventing collapse, suggesting that their influence on the formation of massive stars at early stages is greater than previously thought.

The new findings necessitate a revision of leading star formation theories and provide the first statistically significant evidence that massive stars form from gas clouds that collapse under gravitational forces. The discovery also emphasizes the need for further observations aimed at measuring magnetic fields during the early stages of massive star formation. This will help to understand how the most massive celestial bodies in the universe come into existence.