Astrophysics (Index)About

Kennicutt-Schmidt law

(Kennicutt-Schmidt relation, Schmidt law, star formation law)
(relation between gas density and star formation rate)

The Kennicutt-Schmidt law (Kennicutt-Schmidt relation, Schmidt law or star formation law) is an empirical relation between a star-forming region's star formation rate (SFR) and its gas density, stating the SFR is proportional to a power of its gas density. It is typically stated in terms of the surface density (Σ) of each:

ΣSFR ∝ (Σgas)n

n is a constant, currently estimated to be 1.4 if the SFR is in solar masses per year per square parsec and gas density is grams per square parsec.


(astrophysics,star formation,relation)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennicutt-Schmidt_law
http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March11/Elmegreen3/Elmegreen1.html
https://astrobites.org/2013/11/05/astrophysical-classics-the-observed-relation-between-star-formation-and-gas-in-galaxies/
http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March15/Kennicutt/Kennicutt6.html

Referenced by page:
star formation rate (SFR)

Index