大质量恒星的形成:理论与观测

Massive star formation: theories and observations

文章简要叙述了有关大质量恒星形成的理论以及相关观测证据.目前大质量恒星形成的理论主要有两种,即吸积说和并合说.吸积说认为,大质量星可能与小质量星形成于相似的过程;并合说主张大质量星可能是由小质量年轻星碰撞合并而成.解决这两种理论争论的关键在于在大质量星附近能否观测到吸积盘的存在,最新的观测表明大质量星更有可能是通过吸积增加自身的质量,但最终解决这一问题可能还需要更多的观测证据.文章还提出了一些本领域尚未解决的问题,为感兴趣的研究者提供参考.

We briefly describe the theories of the formation of massive stars and related observational evidence There are two main theories concerning massive star formation, accretion and merger. The accretion scenario suggests that massive stars are formed in a similar process as low - mass stars, while the merging scenario proposes that massive stars are formed when low - mass young stellar objects collide and merge with each other. A key point to settle the dispute between the two theories is whether there exists a circumstellar disk around the massive star. Recent observations suggest that massive stars are more likely to be formed through a process of mass accretion from their circumstellar disks. However, it will take time for the dispute to be finally settled. Some questions in the field of massive star formation that remain to be solved are brought up for the sake of those interested.