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The mode of creation of stars, stellar systems and the hubble system of galaxies

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Abstract

It is confirmed that the creation of stars in spiral (and perhaps also Irri) galaxies requires a physical parameter (X factor) additional to gas density. Consequently theX factor is an essential feature of stellar patterns and perhaps of stellar systems (spiral and other disk and spheroidal systems, globular clusters) and may be the key to the origin of the few, yet remarkably varied Hubble system of galaxies.

  1. (i)

    It is shown that theX factor is organized over the whole galaxy and is a function of azimuth φ as well as radiusr. Only a galaxy-wide force field seems capable of explaining such anX(r, φ) factor either magnetic or gravitational in origin.

  2. (ii)

    If gravitational in origin, theX factor must be a shock wave, but a survey of observations in eight galaxies, including our own, shows no large-scale shocks associated with star creation. This provides further strong evidence against the density-shock theory of twin spiral arms.

  3. (iii)

    It is confirmed that galaxies of different Hubble types did not evolve from one another, so that each protogalaxy must possess a genetic factor which predetermines its evolution, and in particular its stellar systems. Thus the protogalactic genetic factor may be identical with theX factor.

  4. (iv)

    The case for a primordial magnetic field is strengthened, and it is shown that in our Galaxy and some others the field must be generally oblique to the disk. Such a field can explain theX(r, φ) factor in terms of a magneto-gravitational mechanism of gas clumping.

  5. (v)

    An earlier, hydromagnetic theory of the Hubble types and of radio galaxies is extended by including theX factor to explain the various stellar systems observed in spiral, elliptical, lenticular and irregular galaxies.

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  1. CSIRO Division of Physics, National Standards Laboratory, Sydney, Australia

    J. H. Piddington

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Piddington, J.H. The mode of creation of stars, stellar systems and the hubble system of galaxies. Astrophys Space Sci 31, 225–240 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642613

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642613

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