WUNA Lunch Talk:

Mike Dunham

Yale University

Extreme Objects in Low-Mass Star Formation

November 28

12:10PM, Room 230, NRAO, Edgemont Road

Abstract:

Low-mass stars form from the gravitational collapse of dense molecular cloud cores. Despite the general simplicity of this statement many details on how mass accretes from dense cores to stars remains poorly understood. I will discuss two classes of young stars at opposite extremes of the luminosity scale: newly discovered extremely low luminosity objects, some of which may be first hydrostatic cores, and extremely high luminosity, FU Orionis objects. I will present recent observations of both types of objects and discuss our current understanding of how these objects fit into the overall star formation picture, focusing on both new insights and outstanding questions.