English

Feedback Processes [in Massive Star Formation]: A Theoretical Perspective

Astrophysics 2007-11-27 v1

Abstract

I review the evidence for the importance of feedback from massive stars at small and large scales. The feedback mechanisms include accretion luminosity, ionizing radiation, collimated outflows, and stellar winds. The good news is that feedback doesn't entirely prevent the formation of massive stars, while the bad news is that we don't know what does limit their masses. Feedback from massive stars also influences their surroundings. I argue that this does not produce a triggering efficiency above unity, nor does it prevent lots of prompt star formation in GMCs, though it may preserve massive remnants of the clouds for many dynamical times.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0711.4047,
  title  = {Feedback Processes [in Massive Star Formation]: A Theoretical Perspective},
  author = {Mordecai-Mark Mac Low},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0711.4047},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

for publication in the proceedings of "Massive Star Formation: Observations Confront Thoery", ASP conference series, eds. H. Beuther et al., 10 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-21T09:47:18.975Z