Formaldehyde: A Unique Probe of Galaxy Evolution and Cosmology

AST-0707713DarlingDr.科罗拉多大学的Jeremiah Darling将调查在低和高红移星系中通过介入甲醛（H2 CO）吸收宇宙微波背景（CMB）光子而实现的许多研究途径。 主要目标是为利用H2 CO作为一种独特而有力的工具研究宇宙的星星形成历史、星系演化和氢超脉泽的形成机制以及精确测量宇宙学参数奠定基础。 甲醛是高密度气体的示踪剂，与星星形成密切相关，因此H2 CO测量将受到星星形成速率的限制，与红移或尘埃灭绝无关。 H2 CO测量也是质量有限的。 H2 CO对CMB的吸收可能被用作测量远远超出星系团所设定的距离限制的宇宙学参数的标准标尺。该研究项目包括为扩展甚大阵列的开创性工作建立科学基础（新墨西哥州）和阿塔卡马大型毫米/亚毫米阵列（智利），培训新的天文学家使用这些即将到来的设施，在天体物理学和分子实验室研究之间创造协同作用，并为教育、推广和指导的新方向创造机会。 未来的射电天文学家和天体化学家将从中受益，并从与分子结构研究人员的频繁接触中受益，这将是本研究的必要组成部分。

AST-0707713DarlingDr. Jeremiah Darling of the University of Colorado will investigate a number of research avenues enabled by the absorption of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons by intervening formaldehyde (H2CO) in both low and high redshift galaxies. The chief goal is to build the foundation required to use H2CO as a unique and powerful tool to study the star formation history of the Universe, the evolution of galaxies, and the formation mechanism of hydroxyl megamasers, and to make precise measurements of cosmological parameters. Formaldehyde is a tracer of high-density gas, which is tightly correlated with star formation, so H2CO surveys will be limited by the star formation rate, independent of redshift or dust extinction. H2CO surveys are also mass limited. H2CO absorption against the CMB can likely be used as a standard ruler to measure cosmological parameters far beyond the distance limit set by galaxy clusters.The research project includes building a scientific foundation for ground-breaking work with the Expanded Very Large Array (New Mexico) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (Chile), training new astronomers to use these upcoming facilities, creating synergy between astrophysical and laboratory studies of molecules, and creating opportunities for new directions in education, outreach, and mentoring. Future radio astronomers and astrochemists will benefit from these, and from the frequent contacts with molecular structure researchers, which will be a necessary part of this study.