Case Studies In Star Formation

Case Studies in Star Formation offers an overview of our current observational and theoretical understanding in the molecular astronomy of star formation. The book is divided into six sections: the first introduces an overview of star formation and the essential language, concepts and tools specific to molecular astronomy studies. Each subsequent section focuses on individual sources, beginning with a description of large-scale surveys. The volume covers low- and high mass star formation, ionization and photodissociation regions, and concludes with the extragalactic perspective. Conventional textbooks begin with principles, ending with a few convenient examples. Through copious examples, Case Studies reflects the reality of research, which requires the creative matching of ongoing observations to theory and vice-versa, often raising as many questions as answers. This supplementary study guide enables graduate students and early researchers to bridge the gap between textbooks and the wealth of research literature. Offers multiple examples, descriptive and analytical, of both large-scale survey and individual source studies, presenting the widest perspective of star formation activity in more observational detail than a standard textbook Exposes readers to essential observational and analytical practice, and the application of astronomical, physical, and chemical principles necessary in this cross-disciplinary subject Makes no initial assumptions about the reader's background beyond those expected of a typical undergraduate in astronomy, physics, or chemistry Offers copious examples of the reality of research, in which observation and theoretical understanding advance hand in hand, raising questions as well as consolidating answers