LOW-MASS PROTOSTELLAR CONDENSATIONS IN MAGNETIZED MOLECULAR CLOUDS

We investigate the influence of the magnetic field on the formation an d evolution of dense cores in molecular clouds. The model originally p roposed by Myers & Goodman (1988) is modified in order to take into ac count the effect of a non-negligible external pressure. We define two parameters beta and p, which allow to specify the physical quantities of the system (molecular cloud plus core) with reference to the proces s of ambipolar diffusion, and the quantities involved in the collapse. The analysis of three samples with different physical characteristics suggests a possible interpretation of an evolutionary sequence for th e condensation originated within a magnetized molecular cloud, towards the stage of protostar.