How Does Star Formation Affect the Large Scale Structure of the ISM?

Jan Palouš
1996 Symposium - International astronomical union  
Nearly all the star formation in the Milky Way and nearby spiral galaxies occurs in the giant molecular clouds (GMC). Inside the GMC's the units of star formation are the high density (≥ 103cm–3) and high mass (≥ 103M⊙) clumps (Blitz, 1991). Once a GMC is "infected" by star formation many clumps form stars producing a star forming region. The formation of massive stars induces destructive processes, such as H2dissociation, HI ionization, stellar winds and supernova explosions, thus self-limiting the lifetime of GMC to ∼ 3 107years.
doi:10.1017/s0074180900230362 fatcat:bzdfj33nynavvgequtjg2xlsfi