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

恒星和行星系统的诞生地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。为此，该项目正在通过一个综合计划来探测恒星形成区域，该计划将使用基于广域红外成像的强大技术创建的总柱密度或视觉消光图与分子谱线的观察相结合。这使得可以确定分子丰度分布作为云深度的函数。使用最先进的化学模型和激发代码，化学预测将被转换为可观测数据，以便与跟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。其结果将显著增强解释恒星和行星形成区域的分子观测的能力。该项目正在培训一名研究生，学习红外和射电天文学中使用的图像分析技术，以及理论化学和恒星形成理论。一名或多名本科生将参与一项实践研究项目。

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.