Engineering topics

Lizano, Susana

Publications and source records attributed to Lizano, Susana.

13 records

NASA NTRS2000

Singular Isothermal Disks and the Formation of Multiple Stars

A crucial missing ingredient in previous theoretical studies of fragmentation is the inclusion of dynamically important levels of magnetic fields. As a minimal model for a candidate presursor to the formation of binary and multiple stars, we therefore consider the equilibrium configuration of isopedically magnetized, scale-free, singular isothermal disks, without the assumption of axial symmetry. We find that lopsided (M = 1) configurations exist at any dimensionless rotation rate, including zero. Multiple-lobed (M = 2, 3, 4, ...) configurations bifurcate from an underlying axisymmetric sequence at progressively higher dimensionless rates of rotation, but such nonaxisymmetric sequences always terminate in shockwaves before they have a chance to fission into separate bodies. We advance the hypothesis that binary and multiple star-formation from smooth (i.e., not highly turbulent) starting states that are supercritical but in unstable mechanical balance requires the rapid (i.e., dynamical) loss of magnetic flux at some stage of the ensuing gravitational collapse.

Galli, Daniele↗

NASA NTRS2000

Singular Isothermal Disks: Nonaxiymmetric Bifurcations and Equilibria - Paper 2

We review the difficulties of the classical fission and fragmentation hypotheses for the formation of binary and multiple stars. A crucial missing ingredient in previous theoretical studies is the inclusion of dynamically important levels of magnetic fields. As a minimal model for a candidate presursor to the formation of binary and multiple stars, we therefore formulate and solve the problem of the equilibria of isopedically magnetized, singular isothermal disks, without the assumption of axial symmetry. Considerable analytical progress can be made if we restrict our attention to models that are scale-free, i.e., that have surface densities that vary inversely with distance omega from the rotation axis of the system. In agreement with earlier analysis by Syer and Tremaine, we find that lopsided (M = 1) configurations exist at any dimensionless rotation rate, including zero. Multiple-lobed (M = 2, 3, 4, ...) configurations bifurcate from an underlying axisymmetric sequence at progressively higher dimensionless rates of rotation, but such nonaxisymmetric sequences always terminate in shockwaves before they have a chance to fission into M = 2, 3, 4, ... separate bodies. On the basis of our experience in this paper, we advance the hypothesis that binary and multiple star-formation from smooth (i.e., not highly turbulent) starting states that are supercritical but in unstable mechanical balance requires the rapid (i.e., dynamical) loss of magnetic flux at some stage of the ensuing gravitational collapse.

Galli, Danielle↗

NASA NTRS1994

Magnetocentrifugally driven flows from young stars and disks. 1: A generalized model

We propose a generalized model for stellar spin-down, disk accretion, and truncation, and the origin of winds, jets, and bipolar outflows from young stellar objects. We consider the steady state dynamics of accretion of matter from a viscous and imperfectly conducting disk onto a young star with a strong magnetic field. For an aligned stellar magnetosphere, shielding currents in the surface layers of the disk prevent stellar field lines from penetrating the disk everywhere except for a range of radii about pi = R(sub x), where the Keplerian angular speed of rotation Omega(sub x) equals the angular speed of the star Omega(sub *). For the low disk accretion rates and high magnetic fields associated with typical T Tauri stars, R(sub x) exceeds the radius of the star R(sub *) by a factor of a few, and the inner disk is effectively truncated at a radius R(sub t) somewhat smaller than R(sub x). Where the closed field lines between R(sub t) and R(sub x) bow sufficiently inward, the accreting gas attaches itself to the field and is funneled dynamically down the effective potential (gravitational plus centrifugal) onto the star. Contrary to common belief, the accompanying magnetic torques associated with this accreting gas may transfer angular momentum mostly to the disk rather than to the star. Thus, the star can spin slowly as long as R(sub x) remains significantly greater than R(sub *). Exterior to R(sub x) field lines threading the disk bow outward, which makes the gas off the mid-plane rotate at super-Keplerian velocities. This combination drives a magnetocentrifugal wind with a mass-loss rate M(sub w) equal to a definite fraction f of the disk accretion rate M(sub D). For high disk accretion rates, R(sub x) is forced down to the stellar surface, the star is spun to breakup, and the wind is generated in a manner identical to that proposed by Shu, Lizano, Ruden, & Najita in a previous communication to this journal. In two companion papers (II and III), we develop a detailed but idealized theory of the magnetocentrifugal acceleration process.

Shu, Frank↗

NASA NTRS1994

Magnetocentrifugally driven flows from young stars and disks. 2: Formulation of the dynamical problem

We formulate the dynamical problem of a cool wind centrifugally driven from the magnetic interface of a young star and an adjoining Keplerian disk. We examine the situation for mildly accreting T Tauri stars that rotate slowly as well as rapidly accreting protostars that rotate near break-up. In both cases a wind can be driven from a small X-region just outside the stellar magnetopause, where the field lines assume an open geometry and are rooted to material that rotates at an angular speed equal both to the local Keplerian value and to the stellar angular speed. Assuming axial symmetry for the ideal magnetohydrodynamic flow, which requires us to postpone asking how the (lightly ionized) gas is loaded onto field lines, we can formally integrate all the governing equations analytically except for a partial equation that describes how streamlines spread in the meridional plane. Apart from the difficulty of dealing with PDEs of mixed type, finding the functional forms of the conserved quantities along streamlines - the ratio beta of magnetic field to mass flux, the specific energy H of the fluid in the rotating frame, and the total specific angular momentum J carried in the matter and the field - constitutes a standard difficulty in this kind of (Grad-Shafranov) formalism. Fortunately, because the ratio of the thermal speed of the mass-loss regions to the Keplerian speed of rotation of the interface constitutes a small parameter epsilon, we can attack the overall problem by the method of matched asymptotic expansions. This procedure leads to a natural and systematic technique for obtaining the relevant functional dependences of beta, H, and J. Moreover, we are able to solve analytically for the properties of the flow emergent from the small transsonic region driven by gas pressure without having to specify the detailed form of any of the conserved functions, beta, H, and J. This analytical solution provides inner boundary conditions for the numerical computation in a companion paper by Najita & Shu of the larger region where the main acceleration to terminal speeds occurs.

Shu, Frank H.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Photoevaporation of disks around massive stars and application to ultracompact H II regions

Young massive stars produce sufficient Lyman continuum photon luminosity Phi(sub i) to significantly affect the structure and evolution of the accretion disks surrounding them. A nearly static, ionized, isothermal 10(exp 4) K atmosphere forms above the neutral disk for disk radii r less than r(sub g) = 10(exp 15) M(sub 1) cm, where M(sub *) = 10 solar mass M(sub 1) is the stellar mass. For r approximately greater than r(sub g) the diffuse field created by hydrogen recombinations to the ground state in the photoionized gas above the disk produces a steady evaporation at the surface of the disk, and this H II gas flows freely out to the ISM (the 'disk wind'). The detailed structure depends on the mass-loss rate dot-M(sub w) of the fast, approximately greater than 1000 km/sec, stellar wind from the massive star. A critical mass-loss rate dot-M(sub cr) is defined such that the ram pressure of the stellar wind equals the thermal pressure of the H II atmosphere at r(sub g). In the weak stellar wind solution, dot-M(sub w) less than dot-M(sub cr), the diffuse photons from the atmosphere above r(sub g) produce a photoevaporative mass-loss rate from the disk at r approximately greater than r(sub g) of order 1 x 10(exp -5)(Phi(sub 49))(exp 1/2)(M(sub 1))(exp 1/2) solar mass/year, where Phi(sub i) = 10(exp 49) Phi(sub 49)/sec. The resulting slow (10 to 50 km/sec) ionized outflow, which persists for approximately greater than 10(exp 5) year for disk masses M(sub d) approximately 0.3 M(sub *), may explain the observational characteri stics of unresolved, ultracompact H II regions. In the strong stellar wind solution, dot-M(sub w) greater than dot-M(sub cr), the ram pressure of the stellar wind blows down the atmosphere for r less than r(sub g) and allows the stellar photons to penetrate to greater radii and smaller heights. A slow, ionized outflow produced mainly by diffuse photons is again created for r less than r(sub g); however, it is now dominated by the flow at r(sub w)(greater than r(sub g)), the radius at which the stellar wind ram pressure equals the thermal pressure in the evaporating flow. The mass-loss rate from the disk is of order 6 x 10(exp -5)dot-M(sub w-6) v(sub w8)(Phi (sub 49))(exp -1/2) solar mass/year, where dot-M(sub w-6) = M(sub w)/10(exp -6) solar mass/year and v(sub w8) = v(sub w)/1000 km/sec is the stellar wind velocity. The resulting outflow, which also persists for approximately greater than 10(exp 5) year may explain many of the more extended (r approximately greater than 10(exp 16) cm) ultracompact H II regions. Both the weak-wind and the strong-wind models depend entirely on stellar parameters Phi(sub i), M(sub *), dot-M(sub w)) and are independent of disk parameters as long as an extended r much greater than (r(sub g)), neutral disk exists. We compare both weak-wind and strong-wind model results to the observed radio free-free spectra and luminosities of ultracompact H II regions and to the interesting source MWC 349.

Hollenbach, David↗

NASA NTRS1993

The collapse of clouds and the formation and evolution of stars and disks

We consider the interrelationships among the structure of molecular clouds; the collapse of rotating cloud cores; the formation of stars and disks; the origin of molecular outflows, protostellar winds, and highly collimated jets; the birth of planetary and binary systems; and the dynamics of star/disk/satellite interactions. Our discussion interweaves theory with the results of observations that span from millimeter wavelengths to X-rays.

Shu, Frank↗

NASA NTRS1991

Star formation and the nature of bipolar outflows

This paper presents a simple physical model for the bipolar molecular outflows that frequently accompany star formation. The model forges an intrinsic link between the bipolar flow phenomenon and the process of star formation, and it helps to explain many of the systematics known for existing sources.

Shu, Frank H.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Molecular cloud cores and bimodal star formation

The phenomenon of bimodal star formation is reviewed in the context of supercritical and subcritical states for molecular clouds that are supported against their self-gravitation by magnetic fields. The governing set of equations is derived subject to the quasi-static and axisymmetric approximations. The method of numerical solution and tests of the resultant computer code are outlined. The results of the evolutionary calculations are discussed, emphasizing time scales, masses, and typical sizes of modeled cores that can be compared with observations. For a fixed mass, it is found that the level or turbulent support determines whether a dense core forms or not. This is used to generalize the concept of a critical mass to account for the contributions of turbulence and thermal pressures to the support of a cloud.

Lizano, Susana↗

NASA NTRS1988

Neutral stellar winds that drive bipolar outflows in low-mass protostars

The Arecibo radio telescope at the 21-cm line of atomic hydrogen has been used to detect a neutral atomic wind in the bipolar flow source HH 7-11. An atomic mass of about 0.015 solar associated with the rapidly flowing gas is deduced. The stellar mass-loss rate is roughly 3 x 10 to the -6th solar mass/yr if the crossing time of the decelerating wind is 5000 yr. The excess emission in the H I line core gives a total duration of the outflow of about 70,000 yr. A detailed analysis of the H I line shape yields a reasonable deceleration rate for the atomic wind if the stellar wind continuously entrains ambient molecular gas as it propagates from the protostar. A stellar wind with the described characteristics and a terminal velocity of 170 km/s would be more than sufficient to drive the known extended CO bipolar outflow in HH 7-11.

Lizano, Susana↗

NASA NTRS1988

Mass loss from rapidly rotating magnetic protostars

It is proposed that bipolar outflows from young stellar objects originate from a protostar rotating at breakup at its equator because it is being spun up by an adjoining accretion disk. Mass outflow at an appreciable fraction of the infall rate from a surrounding molecular cloud core onto the star and disk can be driven centrifugally if the protostar has a sufficiently strong magnetic field. The expansion of the flow toward the rotational poles may provide a collimation mechanism for focusing an ordinary stellar wind into optical jets.

Shu, Frank H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The evolution of molecular clouds

The problem of the structure and evolution of molecular clouds is reviewed, with particular emphasis given to the relationship with star formation. The basic hypothesis is that magnetic fields are the primary agents for supporting molecular clouds, although damped Alfven waves may play an important role in the direction parallel to the field lines. This picture naturally leads to a conception of 'bimodal star formation'. It is proposed that high-mass stars form from the overall gravitational collapse of a supercritical cloud, whereas low-mass stars form from small individual cores that slowly condense by ambipolar diffusion from a more extended envelope until they pass the brink of graviational instability and begin to collapse dynamically from 'inside-out'. The evidence that the infall stage of protostellar evolution is terminated by the development of a powerful stellar wind is reviewed.

Shu, Frank H.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Star formation in molecular clouds - Observation and theory

Star-formation (SF) processes occurring on the scale of giant molecular clouds (10 to the 6th solar masses and 10 to the 20th cm) or smaller are discussed, reviewing the results of recent theoretical and observational investigations. Topics examined include the origin of stellar masses; bimodal SF; initial mass functions; binary stars, bound clusters, and hierarchical fragmentation; and the efficiency of SF. The properties of molecular clouds and the origin of substructures in molecular clumps are explored in detail, and consideration is given to gravitational collapse and protostars, bipolar outflows from young stellar objects, visible young stellar objects, and the implications for binary-star and planetary-system formation.

Shu, Frank H.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Formation and heating of molecular cloud cores

The origin of molecular cloud cores and their evolution into star-forming regions are discussed, reviewing the results of recent theoretical investigations. Numerical results are presented graphically, and it is argued that the existence and properties of self-gravitating clouds can be explained most easily by the action of magnetic fields. Supercritical and subcritical cloud regimes (where the cloud mass is greater or less, respectively, than the mass at which cloud self-gravity can overcome magnetic-field support) are defined and related to two types of star formation: (1) highly efficient star formation and (2) inefficient formation of low-mass stars. Mechanism (1) is shown to favor the formation of high-mass stars whenever significant core heating occurs (e.g., via ambipolar diffusion).

Lizano, Susana↗