Formaldehyde: A Unique Probe of Galaxy Evolution and Cosmology

ast - 0707713 - darlingdr。科罗拉多大学的耶利米·达林（Jeremiah Darling）将研究在低红移和高红移星系中通过甲醛（H2CO）介入吸收宇宙微波背景（CMB）光子的一系列研究途径。主要目标是为利用H2CO作为研究宇宙恒星形成历史、星系演化和羟基巨像形成机制的独特而强大的工具奠定基础，并对宇宙参数进行精确测量。甲醛是一种高密度气体的示踪剂，与恒星形成密切相关，因此H2CO的调查将受到恒星形成速率的限制，与红移或尘埃消光无关。H2CO测量也受到质量限制。对CMB的H2CO吸收可能被用作测量远超星系团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（新墨西哥州）和阿塔卡马大型毫米波/亚毫米波阵列（智利）的突破性工作建立科学基础，培训新的天文学家使用这些即将到来的设备，在天体物理学和分子实验室研究之间建立协同作用，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，这将是这项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.