NSF Young Investigator

9457445沃克地面和天基观测天文学的主要目标之一是识别和研究原恒星物体。对原恒星的研究将提供对恒星形成、原恒星演化以及类似我们自己的太阳系形成所需的初始条件的洞察。在接下来的五年里，将开展下列研究，其中将有学生参与：1)使用工作在亚毫米波长的望远镜对原恒星天体进行强有力的观测搜索，2)编写辐射传输计算机代码以解释通过观测候选天体获得的复杂光谱谱线轮廓，以及3)建造低噪声亚毫米波长外差接收器，以成功探测与原恒星周围物质有关的坠落和其他运动。两名研究生将致力于与这些目标相关的论文项目。亚利桑那大学的研究项目已经建立了一个实验室，用于开发最先进的亚毫米波长接收器系统。亚利桑那州/马普研究所皮尔射电天文学(MPIfR)亚毫米望远镜的接收器将在1300、870、610、450和350微米波长的大气窗口中运行。将在南极建造一个双通道(610/370微米波长)、低噪声接收器，用于1.7米亚毫米波长望远镜。接收器将被用来观测银河系和从南极可见的其他星系中原子碳的分布。将参与对进行观测所产生的庞大天文数据库的分析和解释。新技术将被用来构建一个高性能的外差阵列仪器，它将由一个5×5的接收器阵列组成。这台仪器将使望远镜的科学吞吐量增加至少25倍。以前由于望远镜时间有限而无法想象的项目将变得容易处理。这个奖项是为了表彰一位在科学和工程领域杰出的年轻教员。这一奖项将通过为研究和教育活动提供灵活的支持来促进他的职业生涯。鼓励与支持研究和教育的行业和机构合作。

9457445 Walker One of the major goals of both ground and space based observational astronomy is the identification and study of protostellar objects. A study of protostars will provide insight into the initial conditions required for star formation, protostellar evolution, and the formation of solar systems like our own. Over the next five years the following research, which will involve the participation of students, will be carried out: 1) conduct a vigorous observational search for protostellar objects using telescopes operating at submillimeter wavelengths, 2) write the radiative transfer computer codes needed to interpret the complex spectroscopic line profiles obtained by observing candidate objects, and 3) construct the low-noise submillimeter wavelength heterodyne receivers needed to successfully detect infall and other motions associated with material around protostars. Two graduate students will be working on thesis projects related to these goals. The research program at the University of Arizona has an established laboratory for the development of state-of-the-art submillimeter wavelength receiver systems. Receivers for the Arizona/Max-Planck-Institute fur Radioastronomie (MPifR) submillimeter telescope operating in the 1300, 870, 610, 450, and 350 micron wavelength atmospheric windows will be constructed. A dual-channel (610/370 micron wavelength), low-noise receiver will be constructed for use on a 1.7m submillimeter wavelength telescope at the South Pole. The receiver will be used to observe the distribution of atomic carbon in the Milky Way and other galaxies visible from the South Pole. There will be participation in the analysis and interpretation of the huge astronomical data base that will be generated by making the observations. New technology will be used to construct a high performance, heterodyne array instrument which will consist of a 5 by 5 array of receivers. This instrument will increase the scientific throughput of the telescope by at least a factor of 25. Projects which were previously unthinkable due to limited telescope time will become tractable. %%% This award is to recognize an outstanding young faculty member in science and engineering. This award will enhance his career by providing flexible support for research and educational activities. Cooperation with industry and institutions that support research and education is encouraged.