Comprehensive Studies of the Chemistry and Dynamics of Star-Forming Molecular Cores

恒星和行星系统的诞生地点是星际介质的密集区域，现代天体物理学的主要目标之一是发展恒星形成的一般理论。为了实现这一目标，该项目正在通过一个综合项目来探测恒星形成区域，该项目将利用基于宽视场红外成像的强大技术创建的总柱密度图或视觉消光图与分子线观测相结合。这样就可以确定分子丰度曲线作为云深度的函数。利用最先进的化学模型和激发码，化学预测将被转化为可观测的数据，与追踪不同演化阶段的几个恒星形成区域的观测分子线研究进行比较。该结果将显著提高解释恒星和行星形成区域分子观测的能力。更广泛的影响。这个项目是在红外和射电天文学，以及理论化学和恒星形成理论中使用图像分析技术培训研究生。一名或多名本科生将参与实践研究项目。

AST 0335207PI BerginThe birth sites of stars and planetary systems are dense regions of the interstellar medium, and one of the major goals of modern astrophysics is to develop a general theory of star formation. Toward that end this project is probing star forming regions through a comprehensive program that combines maps of total column density or visual extinction created using powerful techniques based on wide-field infrared imaging with observations of molecular lines. This allows for a determination of molecular abundance profiles as a function of cloud depth. Using a state-of-the-art chemical model and excitation code, the chemical predictions will be translated into observables to be compared with the observational molecular line studies in several star forming regions tracing different evolutionary stages. The result will be significantly enhanced ability to interpret molecular observations in star and planet forming regions.Broader Impact. This project is training a graduate student in image analysis techniques used in infrared and radio astronomy, as well as in theoretical chemistry and star formation theory. One or more undergraduate students will participate in a hands-on research project.