Theoretical and Observational Constraints on the Initial Stages of Star Formation

Drs。Leslie W. Looney和Telemachos Ch. Mouschovias（芝加哥大学香槟分校）将融合最先进的观测调查和前沿理论模型，以更好地约束恒星形成的理论参数。他们将直接解决现代恒星形成中的主要争议，即哪个是引发低质量恒星形成的主要机制，是磁（双极）扩散还是可压缩湍流。为此，他们将把地核形成和坍塌的理论与最新的观测数据结合起来。这一结果将为我们对恒星形成的理论理解提供直接而独特的检验。了解恒星形成的过程就是从本质上了解我们自己以及我们在宇宙中的位置。然而，恒星形成过程的细节仍然难以捉摸，尽管理论和观测研究了几十年。该项目的研究目标将广泛地影响天文学领域，并促进伊利诺伊大学研究恒星形成的两个强大的观测和理论团队之间更密切、更富有成效的合作。恒星形成理论的发展不仅与现有的观测结果一致，而且具有预测能力，这对于解释其他星系的观测结果以及进一步了解星系的形成和演化至关重要。此外，这种协同作用将使正在进行的科学研究、发现和兴奋进入UIUC的本科和研究生阶段的科学教学。这项研究将有助于在良好的天文观测技术和可靠的理论计算和应用方面培养和教育下一代学生。此外，将产生一个调查和理论模型的数据库，并将向社区发布。这些信息将以易于获取的形式呈现，并将允许其他小组更直接地将自己的工作与本研究产生的样本进行比较。

Drs. Leslie W. Looney and Telemachos Ch. Mouschovias (University of Chicago Urbana-Champaign, UIUC) will fuse a state-of-the-art observational survey and cutting-edge theoretical models to better constrain the theoretical parameters of star formation. They will address directly the main controversy in modern star formation as to which is the dominant mechanism that initiates low-mass star formation, magnetic (ambipolar) diffusion or compressible turbulence. To this end, they will combine the theory of core formation and collapse with the latest observational data. The result will provide direct and unique tests of our theoretical understanding of star formation. To understand the process of star formation is to essentially understand ourselves and our place in the Universe. However, the details of the star formation process remain elusive, despite being studied both theoretically and observationally for many decades. The research goals in this project will broadly impact the field of astronomy, as well as promote a closer and more fruitful collaboration between two strong groups, observational and theoretical, working on star formation at the University of Illinois. The development of a robust theory of star formation, that will not only be in agreement with existing observations but will also have predictive power, is critical for the interpretation of observations of other galaxies and for furthering our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. Furthermore, this synergy will alight ongoing scientific research, discovery, and excitement into the teaching of science at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at UIUC. This research will help train and educate the next generation of students in both good astronomical observational techniques and solid theoretical calculations and applications. In addition, a database of the survey and theoretical models will be generated that will be released to the community. This information will be in easily accessible form and will allow other groups to compare their own work more directly with the sample generated by this research.