Mapping the connections between molecular clouds, star formation and stellar feedback

亚利桑那大学的John H Bieging博士和克雷格A Kulesa博士将对银河系中选定的分子云进行全面的观测研究，其中大部分工作将由位于Mt.格雷厄姆，亚利桑那州。 该项目将绘制三条一氧化碳（CO）光谱线的云排放，这是迄今为止星际空间分子气体的最佳示踪剂。 这些CO谱线包括12 C16 O（“CO”）和13 C16 O（“13 CO”）同位素形式的J=2-1跃迁，以及12 C16 O的J=3-2跃迁。将以望远镜提供的全角分辨率绘制每条谱线（J=2-1和3-2谱线分别为3 - 2角秒和2 - 1角秒），速度分辨率J=2-1为0.33 km/s，J=3-2为0.87 km/s。 要绘制的区域将包括5个邻近的巨型分子云和10个孤立的小云（博克球状体和类似物体）中大约12平方度的区域。这些目标包括一些最好的例子，用于了解与恒星和行星系统的形成密切相关的分子云形成、核心形成和云破坏过程的详细物理过程，该项目将对研究工作产生广泛的积极影响，为当前和未来的具有非常高的角分辨率但视野有限的干涉仪阵列提供“发现图”。这将是对斯皮策遗产和其他计划中出现的尘埃和气体的中红外和远红外普查的重要补充。数据的迅速和广泛传播将使从事星际介质和星星形成研究的整个研究人员群体受益。将研究生和本科生作为该项目的组成部分，将加强亚利桑那大学作为下一代科学家教育者的作用。

Drs. John H Bieging and Craig A Kulesa of the University of Arizona will conduct a comprehensive observational study of selected molecular clouds in our Galaxy, with a major part of the work being done with the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope on Mt. Graham, Arizona. The project will map the emission from clouds in three spectral lines of carbon monoxide (CO), which is by far the best tracer of molecular gas in interstellar space. These CO lines include the J=2-1 transitions of the 12C16O ("CO") and 13C16O ("13CO") isotopic forms, and the J=3-2 transition of 12C16O. Each spectral line will be mapped at the full angular resolution afforded by the telescope (32 arcseconds and 21 arcseconds, for the J=2-1 and 3-2 lines respectively), and with velocity resolutions as fine as 0.33 km/s for the J=2-1 and 0.87 km/s for the J=3-2 maps. The fields to be mapped will include approximately 12 square degrees in 5 nearby Giant Molecular Clouds and in 10 small isolated clouds (Bok globules and similar objects). These targets include some of the best examples for understanding the detailed physics of molecular cloud formation, core formation, and cloud destruction processes which are intimately tied to the formation of stars and planetary systems.This project will have a broad positive impact on the conduct of research by providing a "finding chart" for current and future interferometer arrays with very high angular resolution but limited fields of view. It will be a critical complement to the mid- and far-infrared census of dust and gas now emerging from the Spitzer Legacy and other programs. The rapid and wide dissemination of the data will benefit the whole community of researchers working on the interstellar medium and star formation. The inclusion of graduate and undergraduate students as integral members of the project will strengthen the role of the University of Arizona as an educator of the next generation of scientists.