Star-Formation Processes in Small Galactic H II Regions

我们银河系中的电离氢（HII）区域呈现出不同于在其他星系中容易观察到的恒星形成尺度。星系外系统为观察最大的恒星形成中心提供了独特的机会，这些中心被视为巨大的HII区域，包含无数，有时是数百颗热的早期恒星。另一方面，在我们的银河系中，仅由一到两颗大质量恒星电离的HII区域可以被详细检查。通过比较大尺度和小尺度的研究，即其他星系和我们自己的星系，解决了恒星形成过程差异的问题。恒星形成过程的性质在星系的演化中起着重要的作用。亨特博士正在启动一个多波长观测项目，研究银河系中光学可见的电离氢小区域的性质，并与她之前获得的外部星系恒星形成区域的数据进行比较。她将使用光学、近红外和远红外数据来测量银河系小恒星形成区域样本中的恒星含量。对这些区域一氧化碳分子的观测将提供关于中性气体云性质的信息，而恒星正是由这些气体形成的。这项资助是妇女研究机会（ROW）计划下的职业进步奖。

Ionized hydrogen (HII) regions in our Galaxy present a different scale of star formation than is easily observed in other galaxies. Extragalactic systems provide unique opportunities for looking at the largest star forming centers, which are seen as giant HII regions containing numerous, sometimes hundreds of, hot, early type stars. In our Galaxy, on the other hand, HII regions which are ionized by only one or two massive stars can be examined in detail. By comparing studies on both the large and small scales, that is other galaxies and our own Galaxy respectively, the question of differences in the star formation process is addressed. The nature of the star formation process plays an important role in the evolution of a galaxy. Dr. Hunter is beginning a multi-wavelength observing project to investigate the nature of small, optically visible regions of ionized hydrogen in our Galaxy to compare with data she has previously obtained on star forming regions in external galaxies. She will use optical, near infrared, and far infrared data to measure the stellar content of a sample of small star forming regions in our Galaxy. Observations of the carbon monoxide molecule in these same regions will yield information on the properties of the neutral gas clouds out of which the stars are forming. This grant is a Career Advancement Award under the Research Opportunities for Women (ROW) program.