Self-similar collapse of isothermal spheres and star formation.

TLDR: In this paper, the problem of the gravitational collapse of isothermal spheres by applying the similarity method to the gas-dynamic flow is considered, and two types of similarity solutions are obtained: one is the prototype for starting states which correspond to unstable hydrostatic equilibrium; the other, for states where the mass of the cloud slightly exceeds the maximum limit allowable for hydrostatic equilibria.

Abstract: We consider the problem of the gravitational collapse of isothermal spheres by applying the similarity method to the gas-dynamic flow. We argue that a previous solution obtained by Larson and Penston to describe the stages prior to core formation is physically artificial; however, we find that the flow following core formation does exhibit self-similar properties.The latter similarity solution shows that the inflow in the dense central regions proceeds virtually at free-fall before the material is arrested by a strong radiating shock upon impact with the surface of the core. Two types of similarity solutions are obtained: one is the prototype for starting states which correspond to unstable hydrostatic equilibrium; the other, for states where the mass of the cloud slightly exceeds the maximum limit allowable for hydrostatic equilibrium. In both cases, an r/sup -2/ law holds for the density distribution in the static or nearly static outer envelope, and an r/sup -3///sup 2/ law holds for the freely falling inner envelope. Rapid infall is initiated at the head of the expansion wave associated with the dropping of the central regions from beneath the envelope. A numerical example is presented which is shown to be in good agreement with the envelopemore » dynamics obtained in previous studies of star formation using hydrodynamic codes.« less