Formaldehyde: A Unique Probe of Galaxy Evolution and Cosmology

AST-0707713 DarlingDr.科罗拉多大学的杰里米·达林将研究低红移和高红移星系中通过干预甲醛(H_2CO)吸收宇宙微波背景(CMB)光子所带来的一些研究途径。主要目标是建立所需的基础，将H_2CO作为研究宇宙恒星形成历史、星系演化和羟基超大分子激光器形成机制的独特而强大的工具，并对宇宙学参数进行精确测量。甲醛是高密度气体的示踪剂，与恒星的形成密切相关，因此H_2CO测量将受到恒星形成速度的限制，与红移或尘埃消光无关。H_2CO测量也是有质量限制的。针对CMB的H_2CO吸收很可能被用作测量远远超出星系团设定的距离限制的宇宙学参数的标准尺。该研究项目包括为利用扩展的甚大阵列(新墨西哥州)和阿塔卡马大毫米/亚毫米阵列(智利)开展开创性工作建立科学基础，培训新天文学家使用这些即将到来的设施，在天体物理和分子实验室研究之间建立协同作用，并为教育、外联和指导方面的新方向创造机会。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.