What external event can trigger the initial fragmentation and implosion of a dense core?
Answer
Shockwave from a nearby supernova explosion
While dense regions within a nebula might collapse solely under their own gravity if sufficiently dense, the initial trigger for instability leading to fragmentation and implosion often requires an external impetus. Two primary external environmental pushes are cited: the immense shockwave generated by the catastrophic explosion of a nearby supernova, which compresses the gas, or the sustained gravitational compression experienced when a cloud passes through the spiral arms of a galaxy. These events provide the necessary initial push to overcome the resisting internal gas pressure.
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