Research Gallery

Figure 1 shows DSS image of bright-rimmed cloud SFO21 whose ionizing star is located at 7 pc from the cloud. The arrow and diamond shows the direction of ionizing star and position of protostar, respectively. Figure 2 shows results of our numerical simulations. Panels from left to right indicate densities at the times t = 0, 6.3x10^4, and 9.6x10^4 year, respectively. Black line indicate ionization front. Initially, uniform cloud core is located at z = 2.5 pc. At t = 0, UV radiation turns on and illuminate from bottom side. Surface of the cloud is strongly compressed by ionization shock, and formation of next generation stars is expected due to its high density at head of the cloud.