Infrared Survey of Protostellar Outflow Activity

要想理解恒星的形成，需要了解分子云中的物理条件--可以对抗重力的湍流运动的本质，新生恒星对其初生云的影响，以及尘埃和分子的物理和化学。来自原恒星的流出是驱动恒星形成云中的湍流运动的主要候选，来自这些流出的冲击可以显著改变化学、温度、密度和尘埃性质。为此，弗吉尼亚大学的雷米·因德贝图博士和迈克尔·斯克鲁茨基博士以及亚利桑那大学的迈克尔·迈耶博士将对原恒星流出活动进行近红外探测，以更好地了解原恒星对其诞生的分子云的机械反馈。将同时在Fe(1.257和1.644微米)和H2(2.122微米)的发射线上获得16个恒星形成区域的窄带图像。这些区域将被选为跨越原恒星质量、演化状态和环境的区域。这些测量将提供每个恒星形成云中原子(较强)和分子(较弱)冲击的完整调查。这项研究将产生数据遗产、硬件/设施遗产以及教育和培训。校准后的窄带图像将公开可用。一名天文学博士后和几名本科生和研究生将接受关于仪器、大型项目设计和实施、观测技术以及恒星形成物理的培训。这项调查将通过结合现有的相机(2微米全天巡天相机，目前正在储存中)和望远镜(山上的斯图尔德61英寸)来进行。Bigelow)，以最低的成本实现有趣的科学。同时，在维护良好的望远镜上提供一台有能力的明亮时间仪器，目前主要在黑暗时间使用，这将为社区提供一个有用的新设施。这个61英寸的望远镜也被亚利桑那大学的“天文夏令营”使用，该夏令营为青少年、成年人和教育工作者提供科学和工程天文体验。红外观测在技术上与光学观测形成了有趣的对比，因此该项目将扩大机会和教育活动。该项目将专门资助一名弗吉尼亚州教师参加夏令营，利用这种硬件和科学，然后与因德贝图博士合作，成为主要的天文学教育者，将他们的经验和知识传播给当地的其他教师。

Understanding star formation requires that one understand the physical conditions in molecular clouds - the nature of turbulent motions that can oppose gravity, the effects that newborn stars have on their natal clouds, and the physics and chemistry of dust and molecules. Outflows from protostars are a primary candidate for driving turbulent motions in star-forming clouds, and the shocks from those outflows can significantly alter chemistry, temperature, density, and dust properties. To this end, Drs. Remy Indebetouw and Michael Skrutskie (University of Virginia) and Michael Meyer (University of Arizona) will carry out a near-infrared survey of protostellar outflow activity to better understand the mechanical feedback of protostars on their natal molecular clouds. Narrow-band images of 16 star formation regions will be obtained, simultaneously in emission lines from Fe+ (at 1.257 and 1.644 microns), and H2 (at 2.122 microns). The regions will be chosen to span protostellar mass, evolutionary state, and environment. These measurements will provide a complete survey of atomic (stronger) and molecular (weaker) shocks in each star-forming cloud.This research will result in a data legacy, a hardware/facility legacy, and education and training. Calibrated narrow-band images will be made publicly available. An astronomy postdoc and several undergraduate and graduate students will receive training on instrumentation, large project design and implementation, and observing techniques, as well as star formation physics. The survey will be carried out by combining an existing camera (the Two-Micron All Sky Survey camera, currently in storage) and telescope (the Steward 61-inch on Mt. Bigelow) to enable interesting science at modest cost. At the same time, making available a capable bright-time instrument on a well-maintained telescope that is currently used primarily during dark time will provide a useful new facility for the community. The 61-inch telescope is also used by the University of Arizona's "Astronomy Camp", which offers science and engineering astronomy experience to teens, adults, and educators. Infrared observing offers an interesting contrast in technique to optical observing, so this project will expand the opportunities and educational activities. This project will specifically fund a Virginia teacher to attend the Camp, work with this hardware and science, and then return to work with Dr. Indebetouw to be a lead astronomy educator, spreading their experience and knowledge to other local teachers.