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

AST 0335207 PI Bergin恒星和行星系统的诞生地是星际介质的致密区域，现代天体物理学的主要目标之一是发展星星形成的一般理论。为此，该项目正在通过一个综合方案探索星星形成区域，该方案将利用基于宽视场红外成像的强大技术绘制的总柱密度或视消光图与分子线观测相结合。这使得可以确定作为云深函数的分子丰度分布。 使用最先进的化学模型和激发代码，化学预测将被转化为观测值，与几个星星形成区域的观测分子线研究进行比较，追踪不同的演化阶段。 其结果将是大大提高解释星星和行星形成区域分子观测的能力。该项目正在培训一名研究生，使其掌握红外线和射电天文学所用的图像分析技术以及理论化学和星星形成理论。一个或多个本科生将参加一个动手研究项目。

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.