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Astronomers have developed a new model to address the surprisingly low star formation rates observed in spiral galaxies, including our Milky Way. Despite a variety of masses and stellar compositions, disc galaxies share common characteristics: their star formation rate closely correlates with gas content, gas motions, and the dynamics of the galaxy. Notably, only about 1% of the gas in these galaxies converts into stars over a significant timescale, with most activity centralized. Traditional star formation models suggest gravity should effectively compress gas in molecular clouds, yet observations reveal that star formation inefficiency extends even to these smaller scales.
In their research, CfA astronomers Blakesley Burkhart and John Forbes, alongside colleagues, presented a unified model explaining these trends. They posited that the correlation between star formation rates and gas motions arises from gas transport within the galaxy rather than direct influence from gas movements. The model emphasizes a balance of gas equilibrium and gravitational stability, encompassing gas transport to the galaxy’s center and the turbulent feedback from star formation. This approach significantly enhances the theoretical understanding of galactic behavior, including the processes involved in the formation of bulges and discs over cosmic time.
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