An improved star formation model for the high-Mach regime.

Noé Brucy

Wednesday, Dec. 4th, 14:50CET

The star formation rate (SFR) is a crucial parameter for understanding galaxy evolution. Current analytical models that estimate the SFR based on interstellar medium (ISM) properties often rely on simplistic one-point statistics, such as the gas density distribution function. In this presentation, I will introduce a series of numerical simulations that reveal two distinct regimes of star formation, which vary with the Mach number. I will demonstrate that traditional models significantly overestimate the SFR in high-Mach number regimes. Furthermore, I will propose a new model that more accurately accounts for the spatial distribution of gas and the replenishment time of dense structures, leading to a more precise prediction of the SFR in highly turbulent environments. Associated papers: Hennebelle, Brucy & Colman 2024, Brucy & al. 2024.