Unveiling the connection between star-formation and galaxy structure in the early Universe

克里斯蒂娜·威廉姆斯被授予美国国家科学基金会天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在亚利桑那大学进行研究和教育项目。威廉姆斯将研究影响恒星形成和影响星系结构的特性和过程。她的研究结果将使我们更好地了解星系是如何形成和随时间变化的。除了这项研究，威廉姆斯还将在一所部落社区大学重建一门天文学课程，并为社区大学生建立一个指导网络，以增加他们接受高等教育的机会。该项目将探索高红移星系中恒星形成活动和形态之间联系的物理起源。根据经验，星系中被抑制的恒星形成活动与高恒星质量密度（致密度）有关，但这种联系的本质尚不清楚。威廉姆斯将通过三个分析来研究恒星形成和结构之间的关系。她将使用深度光谱学结合高分辨率成像来研究恒星形成星系的运动特性和电离条件（诊断输入星际气体的能量）。这项研究将表明星系中致密的形态是否会增强反馈。她还将使用詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜（JWST）的成像和光谱学来测试有关第一批星系中恒星质量积累模式的理论，以抑制恒星的形成。最后，她将把JWST的数据与分子气体调查结合起来，这将解决星系中恒星形成效率和结构之间的关系。在她工作的教育方面，威廉姆斯将在托霍诺奥哈姆社区学院重新开设一门天文学课程。她还将建立一个指导网络，鼓励学生在社区大学之外继续接受教育。

Christina Williams is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct a program of research and education at The University of Arizona. Williams will study the properties and processes that affect star formation and influence the structure of galaxies. Results from her research will allow a better understanding of how galaxies form and change over time. Alongside this research, Williams will reestablish an astronomy course at a tribal community college, and she will develop a mentoring network for the community college students to enhance their access to higher education.This project will explore the physical origin of the connection between star-formation activity and morphology in galaxies at high redshift. Empirically, suppressed star-formation activity in galaxies is correlated with high stellar mass density (compactness), but the nature of this connection is poorly understood. Williams will investigate this relationship between star formation and structure through three analyses. She will use deep spectroscopy in conjunction with high-resolution imaging to study the kinematic properties and ionization conditions (diagnostics of the energy input into the interstellar gas) in star-forming galaxies. This study will indicate if compact morphology in galaxies enhances feedback. She will also use imaging and spectroscopy from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to test theories about the mode of stellar mass buildup in the first galaxies to quench star formation. Finally, she will combine the JWST data with a molecular gas survey that will address the relationship between star formation efficiency and structure in galaxies. For the educational component of her work, Williams will revive an astronomy course at the Tohono O'odham Community College. She will also establish a mentoring network, which will encourage students to continue their education beyond community college.