Star formation

[Pkhabu]

The question is: What is the general process that activates a star's nuclear burn, and is there a shockwave when ignition begins? What might that shockwave's frequency be and could it be discerned?

[rstevenson]

There's a good description on the Wikipedia Star formation page, especially under the Protostar section. There's no mention of a shockwave at a particular point of nuclear ignition, perhaps because the process is widespread and granular in nature, rather than singular and instantaneous.

I'm speaking above my pay grade in this matter, so others with more solid knowledge should step in and clarify further.

Rob