Larson-Penston Solution

The Larson-Penston solution describes how a dense region of gas collapses under gravity to form a star. It provides a mathematical model showing how the gas’s density and velocity change as it contracts, predicting a specific pattern of increasing density and inward motion over time. This solution helps astronomers understand the early stages of star formation by illustrating the natural, self-similar way gas clouds shrink and concentrate before igniting nuclear fusion in a new star. It’s a key theoretical framework in astrophysics for studying the initial collapse process.