The Structure and Evolution of Molecular Clouds

分子云的结构和演化

• 批准号: 8618763
• 负责人: Leo Blitz
• 金额: $ 14.9万
• 依托单位: University of Maryland, College Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1987
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1987-05-01 至 1990-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8618763&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Structure; Evolution; Molecular; Clouds

It has become clear that all, or nearly all, present day star formation takes place in molecular clouds, and the process of star formation is being vigorously investigated on many fronts. In the fundamental stellar cycle -- molecular cloud - star formation - stellar structure - stellar evolution - mass ejection - molecular cloud formation -- it is probably the formation and the evolution of molecular clouds which is the least well understood. Furthermore, because the problem of star formation on a global scale has been reduced largely to the questions of how, when, where, and why molecular clouds form, an understanding of the formation and evolution of molecular clouds will provide an important key to understanding the optical appearance of spiral, irregular, and in some cases, peculiar galaxies. Dr. Blitz, at the University of Maryland, will continue a very highly regarded research program to better understand the structure and evolution of molecular clouds. A large number of observations will be undertaken using radio astronomical techniques, primarily in the millimeter portion of the spectrum, to probe the full range of known molecular clouds, from the recently discovered high latitude clouds to the giant star forming clouds. The radiation from various molecules will be observed with most emphasis on the carbon monoxide molecule because of its usefulness as an indirect tracer of the dominant species, molecular hydrogen. The data will be combined with optical and infrared observations, as well as with observations of the atomic hydrogen gas to obtain as complete a picture as possible of the progenitors of star formation in our Galaxy and in other galaxies. An equally valuable aspect of Dr. Blitz' program is his direct involvement of undergraduate students at the University of Maryland in the research effort.

很明显，所有或几乎所有的现代星星 形成发生在分子云中， 星星的形成正受到多方面的积极研究。 在基本的恒星循环中--分子云--星星 形成-恒星结构-恒星演化-物质抛射 - 分子云的形成--它可能是 分子云的演化 明白 此外，由于星星形成的问题 在全球范围内， 分子云如何、何时、何地以及为何形成， 分子云的形成和演化 理解光学外观的一个重要关键 螺旋形的不规则的，在某些情况下，奇特的星系。 布利茨博士，在马里兰州大学，将继续一个非常 高度重视的研究计划，以更好地了解 分子云的结构和演化。 大量的 将利用射电天文学进行观测 技术，主要是在频谱的毫米部分， 为了探测已知分子云的全部范围， 最近发现的高纬度云到巨大的星星 形成云。 各种分子的辐射 观察到的最重要的是一氧化碳分子 因为它可以间接地追踪 氢分子 这些数据将与 光学和红外观测，以及与观测 以获得完整的图像， 可能是银河系中形成星星的祖先， 在其他星系。 布利茨博士的一个同样有价值的方面 该计划是他直接参与本科生在 马里兰州大学的研究工作。