CAREER: The Interstellar Disk-Halo Connection in Edge-on Galaxies - Bringing Research to a Large Audience

近年来，人们已经认识到星际介质（ISM）和星系的演化主要依赖于星系盘和星系晕之间的气体循环。最近在ISM中发现的巨大的垂直延伸的相干结构被称为超级气泡和烟囱。对厚厚的扩散气体层的观测结果使科学家们能够开始形成一幅恒星如何激发和塑造ISM的图景，以及通过这些过程，扩散气体如何影响星系的未来演化。因此，这种“盘晕连接”对于恒星形成、ISM反馈、化学演化，以及可能从星系中逸出的气体和负责QSO金属吸收线系统的大型气体晕的产生至关重要。ISM的一个特点是弥漫性电离气体（DIG），它现在给我们提供了一个强有力的处理盘晕连接的方法。在银河系中，这种垂直延伸的介质被称为雷诺层。虽然人们普遍认为雷诺层的厚很可能是由于烟囱等过程造成的，但我们对(a)该层的范围及其变化，(b)电离和加热的来源，(c)远离平面的气体的运动学，以及(d)其他厚气体层与雷诺层和盘晕连接的关系仍然只有初步的了解。由于一些原因，通过对外部星系的研究可以更好地解决许多ISM问题，因为对外部星系的研究可以提供对辐射的概括性看法。在边对螺旋的相对较新的DIG领域，最近的努力已经集中，给了我们一个强大的工具来理解盘晕连接和ISM一般。通过对星系边缘的成像，我们现在开始获得关于DIG层结构的信息，以及它们与其他厚气体层和恒星形成活动的关系。发现DIG是候选烟囱的优秀示踪剂。DIG层的光谱学现在被用于研究该相位微弱水平上的电离、加热、运动学和垂直范围。因此，这些意见对解决上面列出的四个问题具有很大的潜力。这项研究工作的目标是利用灵敏的光谱学和新的成像可能性，极大地扩展这些DIG观测，并进行中性氢（HI）和宇宙射线晕的搜索。通过这种方式，人们希望了解盘晕连接是如何详细运作的，作为我们对星系演化的更大理解的输入。关于正在进行的研究的信息将作为提高科学认识和素养努力的一部分提供给广大听众。新墨西哥大学（UNM）有一个名为“LodeStar”的创新项目，将教育和推广与当前前沿研究的信息结合起来。北极星将很快在阿尔伯克基开设一个天文科学中心，从而为将研究成果带给公众提供基础设施。通过一个名为“电磁波谱上的星系”的主题，对这项研究结果的解释和解释，以及新墨西哥大学天文学小组的一般结果，将用于制定计划，教育公众和K-12学校的学生关于星系的物理学，天文学的方法，以及天文学研究在他们自己国家的重要性。至关重要的是，在科学领域代表性不足、但在新墨西哥州具有强大影响力的少数民族群体将通过这些努力获得支持。因此，在各个层次学习科学的机会的意识将会增加。将发展“北极星”的其他作用，这将导致有效的公共宣传项目。＊＊＊

AST-9986113RandIn recent years it has been realized that the Interstellar Medium (ISM) and galaxy evolution depend pivotally on the cycling of gas between a galaxy's disk and halo. Recent discoveries of huge, vertically extended coherent structures in the ISM are called superbubbles and chimneys. The results from observations of thick layers of diffuse gas have enabled scientists to begin to form a picture of how stars energize and shape the ISM, and how, through these processes, the diffuse gas affects the future evolution of a galaxy. This "disk-halo connection" is therefore critical for star formation feedback on the ISM, chemical evolution, and possibly the escape of gas from galaxies and the production of large gaseous halos responsible for QSO metal absorption line systems.A feature of the ISM, which is now giving us a strong handle on the disk-halo connection, is the Diffuse Ionized Gas (DIG). In the Milky Way Galaxy, this vertically extended medium is known as the Reynolds layer. While it is generally accepted that the great thickness of the Reynolds layer is probably due to processes such as chimneys, we still have only a rudimentary understanding of (a) the extent of the layer and variations thereof, (b) sources of ionization and heating, (c) the kinematics of the gas far from the plane, and (d) the relation of other thick gaseous layers to the Reynolds layer and the disk-halo connection. For several reasons, many ISM issues are better addressed through studies of external galaxies, which provide a synoptic view of the emission. The relatively new area of DIG in edge-on spirals, where recent efforts have been focused, has given us a powerful tool for understanding the disk-halo connection and the ISM in general. Through imaging of edge on galaxies we are now beginning to obtain information on the structure of DIG layers and their relation to other thick gaseous layers and star formation activity. The DIG is found to be an excellent tracer of candidate chimneys. Spectroscopy of DIG layers is now being used to study the ionization, heating, kinematics and vertical extent at faint levels of this phase. Hence, such observations have great potential to address the four issues listed above. The goal of this research effort is to expand greatly these DIG observations using sensitive spectroscopy and new imaging possibilities, and to carry out searches for neutral hydrogen (HI) and cosmic ray halos. In this way it is hoped to learn about how the disk-halo connection operates in detail, as input into our larger understanding of galaxy evolution.Information on the research that is being carried out will be brought to a large audience as part of an effort to improve scientific awareness and literacy. An innovative project at the University of New Mexico (UNM), called LodeStar, combines education and outreach with information on current forefront research. LodeStar will soon open an Astronomy Science Center in Albuquerque, thus providing the infrastructure for bringing research results to the public. Through a theme called "Galaxies Across the Electromagnetic Spectrum", the interpretations and explanations of the results of this research, and results from the UNM astronomy group in general, will be used to develop programs to educate the general public and K-12 school classes about the physics of galaxies, the methods of astronomy, and the importance of astronomical research in their own State. Crucially, ethnic groups underrepresented in science, but with a strong presence in New Mexico, will be reached through these efforts. Thus the awareness of opportunities to study science at all levels will be increased. Other roles for LodeStar will be developed which will lead to effective public outreach projects. ***