US-France Cooperative Research: Magnetic Fields in Star Forming Regions

这项为期三年的奖励将支持美国-法国合作社 托马斯特罗兰参与的银河系天文学研究， 肯塔基州大学，理查德Crutcher，伊利诺伊大学， 和法国默东天文台的伊利亚·卡泽。 的 研究人员建议继续他们成功的研究， 星际云演化中的磁场强度， 星星的形成。 磁场已经成为一种 解释了星星的形成和其他宇宙现象。 唯一的 用于测量磁场强度已知技术是检测 在无线电频谱线中的塞曼效应。 美国和法国的调查人员将继续调查 观测乌云的OH塞曼效应， VLA（甚大阵列），绿色银行和阿雷西博望远镜。 他们将通过观察地球上的 使用IRAM 30-m测量CN的3-mm线塞曼效应 望远镜 这项实验将允许直接探测磁场 在星星形成的关键阶段， 崩溃正在发生。 IRAM的意见 望远镜是必不可少的，因为它的收集面积很大， 允许在更密集的空间区域进行观测。 该项目将 受益于法国在观察方面的专业知识， 在欧洲的IRAM设施。 通过观察计划， 研究人员将能够测试磁性的基本理论， 星际云中的磁场，并增强我们对 磁场在星星形成中的作用。

This three-year award will support U.S.-France cooperative research in galactic astronomy involving Thomas Troland, University of Kentucky, Richard Crutcher, University of Illinois, and Ilya Kazes at the Observatoire de Meudon in France. The investigators propose to continue their successful research on magnetic field strengths in the evolution of interstellar clouds and star formation. Magnetic fields have emerged as a mechanism for explaining star formation and other cosmic phenomena. The only known technique for measuring magnetic field strength is detection of the Zeeman effect in radio frequency spectral lines. The U.S. and French investigators will continue their survey observations of the OH Zeeman effect of dark clouds using the VLA (Very Large Array), Green Bank and the Arecibo telescopes. They will extend their research to denser regions by observing the Zeeman effect in the 3-mm lines of CN using the IRAM 30-m telescope. This experiment will allow direct probing of magnetic fields at a crucial stage in star formation when core fragmentation and collapse are taking place. Observations with the IRAM telescope is essential since its collecting area is sizeable and will allow for observations in denser regions of space. The project will benefit from French expertise in observation and access to the IRAM facility in Europe. Through the observational program, the investigators will be able to test fundamental theories of magnetic fields in interstellar clouds and enhance our understanding of the role of magnetic fields in star formation.