Competitive accretion theory

Competitive accretion theory explains how stars in a dense cluster grow by pulling in surrounding gas. In regions with many forming stars, those near the center or with stronger gravity attract more gas, allowing them to become larger and more massive over time. This process causes some stars to outgrow others because they effectively "win" the competition for available material. It highlights the dynamic environment where stars' final sizes depend not only on initial conditions but also on their location and ability to gather extra gas from their surroundings.