We carry out three-dimensional MHD simulations of star formation in
turbulent, magnetized clouds, including ambipolar diffusion and feedback from
protostellar outflows. The calculations focus on relatively diffuse clouds
threaded by a strong magnetic field capable of resisting severe tangling by
turbulent motions and retarding global gravitational contraction in the
cross-field direction. They are motivated by observations of the Taurus
molecular cloud complex (and, to a lesser extent, Pipe Nebula), which shows an
ordered large-scale magnetic field, as well as elongated condensations that are
generally perpendicular to the large-scale field. We find that stars form in
earnest in such clouds when enough material has settled gravitationally along
the field lines that the mass-to-flux ratios of the condensations approach the
critical value. Only a small fraction (of order 1% or less) of the nearly
magnetically-critical, condensed material is turned into stars per local
free-fall time, however. The slow star formation takes place in condensations
that are moderately supersonic; it is regulated primarily by magnetic fields,
rather than turbulence. The quiescent condensations are surrounded by diffuse
halos that are much more turbulent, as observed in the Taurus complex. Strong
support for magnetic regulation of star formation in this complex comes from
the extremely slow conversion of the already condensed, relatively quiescent
C18O gas into stars, at a rate two orders of magnitude below the maximum,
free-fall value. We analyze the properties of dense cores, including their mass
spectrum, which resembles the stellar initial mass function.Comment: submitted to Ap
