CAREER: Tracing the flow of gas from the cosmic web onto galaxies

目前的星系形成理论预测，星系的气体供应是由星系际介质和宇宙网的气体吸积不断补充的。 对于低密度环境中的低质量星系，大部分气体在福尔斯沿着细丝落到星系盘上时保持凉爽。 皮萨诺博士将使用单碟射电望远镜和下一代射电干涉仪观测这些系统发出的微弱中性氢辐射。 到目前为止，这样的观测已经揭示了许多星系周围的气体云，但推断的吸积率太低，无法维持星星的形成。 通过绘制星系周围的扩散气体图，该项目将确定气体在本地星系上的吸积率，并利用星系周围气体的人口统计数据以及对单个系统的详细观测，将首次将氢与潮汐起源或冷吸积联系起来。 为了帮助解决中学生在STEM科目中落后的学生成绩，Pisano博士和合作者将开发一个开放式的，以探究为基础的教育活动，“那些东西是什么？“这项活动将使西弗吉尼亚州的中学生参与真实的天文研究，使用Things星系样本的档案多波长数据，然后有机会使用天网远程操作望远镜来获取他们自己的原始光学，红外线和无线电数据。 在整个活动中，受过训练的本科生和研究生将指导中学生。 因此，这项活动将为各级学生提供灵感和培训，使他们成为下一代天文学家和教育家。

Current theories of galaxy formation predict that the gas supply of galaxies is continuously replenished by the accretion of gas from the intergalactic medium and the cosmic web. For low-mass galaxies in low-density environments, most of this gas remains cool as it falls along filaments onto the galaxy disks. Dr. Pisano will observe faint neutral hydrogen emission from these systems using single-dish radio telescopes and next-generation radio interferometers. To date, such observations have revealed gas clouds around many galaxies, but the inferred accretion rates are too low to sustain star formation. By mapping the diffuse gas around galaxies, this project will determine the gas accretion rate onto local galaxies and, using the demographics of gas around galaxies plus detailed observations of individual systems, will associated the hydrogen with either a tidal origin or cold accretion for the first time. To help address lagging student achievement in STEM subjects amongst middle school students, Dr. Pisano and collaborators will develop an open-ended, inquiry-based educational activity, "What are those THINGS?" This activity will engage West Virginia middle school students in real astronomical research using archival multi-wavelength data on the THINGS galaxy sample followed by the opportunity to use the Skynet remotely-operable telescopes to acquire their own original optical, infrared, and radio data for their adopted galaxy. Throughout this activity, trained undergraduate and graduate students will mentor the middle school students. As such, this activity will provide inspiration and training to students of all levels to become the next generation of astronomers and educators.