Solar-mass stars form via disk-mediated accretion. Recent findings indicate that this process is probably episodic in the form of accretion bursts 1 , possibly caused by disk fragmentation 2-4 . Although it cannot be ruled out that high-mass young stellar objects arise from the coalescence of their low-mass brethren 5 , the latest results suggest that they more likely form via disks 6-9 . It follows that disk-mediated accretion bursts should occur 10,11 . Here we report on the discovery of the first disk-mediated accretion burst from a roughly twenty-solar-mass high-mass young stellar object 12 . Our near-infrared images show the brightening of the central source and its outflow cavities. Near-infrared spectroscopy reveals emission lines typical for accretion bursts in low-mass protostars, but orders of magnitude more luminous. Moreover, the released energy and the inferred mass-accretion rate are also orders of magnitude larger. Our results identify disk-accretion as the common mechanism of star formation across the entire stellar mass spectrum.S255IR NIRS 3 (aka S255IR-SMA1) is a well-studied ∼20 M (L bol ∼ 2.4×10 4 L ) high-mass young stellar object (HMYSO) 13,14 in the S255IR massive star-forming region 13 , located at a distance of ∼1.8 kpc 15 . It exhibits a disk-like rotating structure 13 , very likely an accretion disk, viewed nearly edge-on 16 (inclination angle ∼80 • ).A molecular outflow has been detected 13 (blueshifted lobe position angle (P.A.) ∼247 • ) perpendicular to the disk. Two bipolar lobes (cavities), cleared by the outflow, are illuminated by the central source and show up as reflection nebulae towards the southwest (blueshifted lobe) and northeast (redshifted lobe, see Fig.

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We carry out a general study on the collapse of axially (and reflection-)symmetric sources in the context of general relativity. All basic equations and concepts required to perform such a general study are deployed. These equations are written down for a general anisotropic dissipative fluid. The proposed approach allows for analytical studies as well as for numerical applications. A causal transport equation derived from the Israel-Stewart theory is applied, to discuss some thermodynamic aspects of the problem. A set of scalar functions (the structure scalars) derived from the orthogonal splitting of the Riemann tensor are calculated and their role in the dynamics of the source is clearly exhibited. The characterization of the gravitational radiation emitted by the source is discussed.

We shall study spatially homogeneous cosmological models containing a selfinteracting scalar field with an exponential potential of the form V()ϭ⌳e k. The asymptotic properties of these models are discussed. In particular, their possible isotropization and inflation are investigated for all values of the parameter k. A particular class of models is analyzed qualitatively using the theory of dynamical systems, illustrating the general asymptotic behavior.

The physical meaning of structure scalars is analyzed for charged dissipative spherical fluids and for neutral dust in the presence of cosmological constant. The role played by such factors in the structure scalars is clearly brought out and physical consequences are discussed. Particular attention needs to be paid to the changes introduced by the above mentioned factors in the inhomogeneity factor and the evolution of the expansion scalar and the shear tensor.