Molecular Clouds and Star Formation

摘要

I will review some of the key issues in star formation in molecular clouds with an emphasis on the potential of ALMA and other new sub-mm and far-infrared astronomical instruments coming soon. For low mass star formation, I shall stress the importance of resolving fine kinematic features including spinning motion of molecular outflows and of detecting 1st core objects. For high mass star formation, my emphasis is towards the young globular clusters where the most numerous massive stars should be forming. A unique target in this respect is giant molecular clouds in the Magellanic Clouds.