Star formation in low-density regions of galactic disks

Abstract

We argue that star formation in the disks of low-surface-brightness (LSB) galaxies shares a similar nature with that occurring in the far outer regions of normal-brightness spiral galaxies, such as those with the extended ultraviolet (XUV) disks. In both cases, stars are born in gravitationally stable disks with an extremely low average gas density (on kiloparsec scales), and the efficiency of this process depends on a disk brightness in a similar way. Processes which can stimulate star formation under these conditions are shortly discussed.