Sternströmen

Sternströmen is a term used in astronomy to describe the flow of stellar material. This can occur in several contexts, most notably in the formation of stars and in the later stages of stellar evolution. During star formation, gas and dust from a surrounding nebula collapse under gravity, forming a protostar. This process is often accompanied by outflows of material from the poles of the protostar, known as bipolar jets or stellar winds. These outflows help to regulate the accretion process and can clear away surrounding gas and dust, allowing the young star to become visible.

In more evolved stars, particularly those that are nearing the end of their lives, mass loss can also be significant. Red giants and asymptotic giant branch stars, for example, can shed a substantial fraction of their mass through stellar winds. This expelled material forms an envelope around the star, which can eventually be dispersed into the interstellar medium. In binary star systems, mass transfer can occur from one star to another, which is another form of material flow. This process is crucial in the evolution of certain types of stars, including those that eventually become white dwarfs or neutron stars. The study of sternströmen helps astronomers understand the lifecycle of stars, the enrichment of the interstellar medium with heavy elements, and the formation of planetary nebulae and supernovae.