The following document lists the file abstract/PRICHARD_PROP_1.abs
from catalogue VI/111.
A plain copy of the file
(without headers/trailers) may be downloaded.
A study of the Galactic distribution of IRAS Compact Molecular Clouds suggests that the lifetimes of molecular cloud cores are commensurate with the observed lifetimes of molecular outflow sources and the ages of the youngest star clusters. Also the rate at which the gas and dust is removed from the molecular cloud core by the formation of stars and the dynamical processes observed to be associated with star formation is an important factor in determining the star formation efficiency. Rapid removal of gas and dust and the formation of bound clusters suggest high star formation efficiencies, whereas lower star formation efficiencies are indicated by slower removal of molecular gas and dust and the formation of unbound clusters. It is proposed to use ISOPHOT to observe open star clusters within the Galaxy to detect the remnant dust from the parent molecular clouds. The purpose of these observations is to investigate the mass ratio of remnant gas and dust to stars in young open clusters with ages in the range 10^6 to 10^8 years) to: 1) determine how long the star formation process continues after the cluster emerges from the molecular cloud core and, 2) determine the relationship between star formation efficiency and cluster richness. Since most of the emission from dust associated with star formation is in the FIR, the proposed observations with ISOPHOT present a unique opportunity to perform this investigation.