The Diffuse Interstellar Medium: Magnetic Fields, Physical Parameters and Morphology

AST 0406987 Heiles这个项目由Carl Heiles博士指导，专注于测量扩散星际介质的物理参数，扩散星际介质是分子云所在的基质，也是吸收大质量恒星能量的介质，因为它们迅速演化到死亡。因此，它是联系恒星诞生和死亡的反馈过程必须运作的媒介。他的兴趣是澄清这些过程中确定的物理方面的扩散原子氢（HI）使用射电天文技术，他是专家。这些技术提供了关于磁场强度、温度、运动学和形态学的独特信息。他将涵盖范围广泛的大小尺度，从小型密集的分子云到全球星系尺度。这些研究，以及与相关理论的比较，对于理解星际气体的热力学、磁气体动力学和发电机过程至关重要。目前的时间是特别适合这些研究，因为绿色银行望远镜（GBT）已成为业务和阿雷西博，其充满光圈和高角分辨率，提供了优秀的地图。在阿雷西博，多馈天线阵（ALFA）将极大地增强测绘工作，ALFA将在本奖项涵盖期间的中途上线。过去，Heiles博士与国家射电天文台、NRAO和NAIC密切合作，在基本波束特性和偏振领域进行校准。如果没有这些努力，这些天文台就不会有偏振能力。这一传统将继续下去。在GBT，光谱相关器将可用于偏振工作，Heiles博士将对其进行校准并开发软件。在阿雷西博，他将继续深入参与校准多馈源阵列系统的技术细节。此外，他将继续我们的本科教育和研究的交叉施肥。

AST 0406987HeilesThis project directed by Dr. Carl Heiles concentrates on measuring physical parameters of the diffuse interstellar medium, which is the matrix within which molecular clouds reside and the medium that soaks up the energy from massive stars as they rapidly evolve to their deaths. Accordingly, it is the medium through which the feedback processes linking stellar birth and death must operate. His interest is clarifying these processes by determining the physical aspects of the diffuse atomic hydrogen (HI) using the radioastronomical techniques with which he is expert. These techniques provide unique information on magnetic field strength, temperature, kinematics, and morphology. He will cover a wide range of size scales, from small dense molecular clouds to the global galactic scale. These studies, together with their comparison with the relevant theories, are crucial for understanding the thermodynamics, magnetogasdynamics, and dynamo processes of the interstellar gas. The present time is particularly appropriate for these studies because the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) has become operational and Arecibo, with its filled aperture and high angular resolution, provides excellent maps. At Arecibo, the mapping will be greatly enhanced by the multifeed array, called ALFA, which should come on line midway through the period covered by this award.In the past Dr. Heiles has worked closely and intensively with the national radio observatories, NRAO and NAIC, performing calibrations in the realms of fundamental beam properties and polarization. Without these efforts, these observatories would not have polarization capability. This tradition will continue. At the GBT the spectral correlator will become usable for polarization work, and Dr. Heiles will calibrate it and develop software for its use. At Arecibo, he will continue his deep involvement with technical details of calibrating the multifeed array system. Also, he will continue our cross-fertilization of undergraduate education andresearch.