Colloquium on Apr. 24th, 2019

Tai Chi Inspired by Star Formation

Speaker: Hua-bai Li (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Venue: Room 2317, SWIFAR Building

Time: 10:00 AM, Wednesday, 24th April, 2019

Abstract: 

In the same order, gravity, magnetic fields and turbulence appeared in the history of star formation theories. Gravity is no doubt a critical player in any theories, while the other two have never been weighted similarly in one theory or model. For example, the traditional ambipolar diffusion picture does not have turbulence and the more recent turbulence-driven pictures of, e.g., star formation efficiencies, do not consider field directions. However, I will present recent observations of molecular clouds which take comparable turbulence and magnetic fields to comprehend. Tai Chi, the martial art inspired by the Nature forces on Earth, is relearned from heavenly clouds.