English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

We present a new assessment of the ability of Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs) toform massive stars and clusters. This is done by comparison with an empiricalmass-size threshold for massive star formation (MSF). We establishm(r)>870M_sun(r/pc)^1.33 as a novel approximate MSF limit, based on clouds withand without MSF. Many IRDCs, if not most, fall short of this threshold. Withoutsignificant evolution, such clouds are unlikely MSF candidates. This provides afirst quantitative assessment of the small number of IRDCs evolving towardsMSF. IRDCs below this limit might still form stars and clusters of up tointermediate mass, though (like, e.g., the Ophiuchus and Perseus MolecularClouds). Nevertheless, a major fraction of the mass contained in IRDCs mightreside in few 10^2 clouds sustaining MSF.

How Many Infrared Dark Clouds can form Massive Stars and Clusters?