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Observations of Magnetic Fields in Molecular Clouds: Testing Star Formation Theory

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Magnetic Fields in Diffuse Media

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 407))

Abstract

This chapter reviews Zeeman observations of magnetic fields in molecular clouds and their use in testing star formation theory. The result is that while ambipolar diffusion driven star formation appears to be inconsistent with observations, reconnection diffusion seems to be consistent.

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Acknowledgements

The author’s research on the role of magnetic fields in star formation is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant AST1007713.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Richard M. Crutcher

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  1. Richard M. Crutcher
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Correspondence to Richard M. Crutcher .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Astronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Alexander Lazarian

  2. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Elisabete M. de Gouveia Dal Pino

  3. Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Claudio Melioli

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Crutcher, R.M. (2015). Observations of Magnetic Fields in Molecular Clouds: Testing Star Formation Theory. In: Lazarian, A., de Gouveia Dal Pino, E., Melioli, C. (eds) Magnetic Fields in Diffuse Media. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 407. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44625-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44625-6_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44624-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44625-6

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