Dynamics and Chemistry of Star Formation in Magnetic Clouds

提案编号：AST-0307368机构：哥伦比亚大学PI：Li，Zhi-Yun磁场可以从根本上改变星星形成的特征。磁场在星星形成中的潜在关键作用早已被认识到，但仍然很难确定，因为很难直接测量磁场强度。对于分子云的致密核心来说尤其如此，这些核心是星星形成的中心。在弗吉尼亚大学工作，李博士将开展一项研究计划，以阐明磁场在单个恒星和恒星系统形成中的作用。对于单个恒星，他将开发一个模型，用于耦合动力学和化学的孤立磁化云核。对于恒星系统，他将扩展现有的双极扩散驱动的磁云演化的轴对称计算到非轴对称的情况。这些非轴对称的计算将使详细的调查磁场在云分裂的作用，这是恒星系统形成问题的核心。李博士的项目的更广泛的影响是弗吉尼亚大学研究生的培训以及专门从事动力学模拟和天体化学的研究人员之间的密切合作。该计划的成功完成将导致更好地了解明星的诞生，一个抓住公众想象力的话题。李博士将把他的研究成果融入本科课程和公开演讲中。

Proposal ID: AST-0307368Institution: University of VirginiaPI: Li, Zhi-YunMagnetic fields can change the character of star formation fundamentally. The potentially critical role of magnetic fields in star formation has long been recognized, but remains hard to ascertain, because of the difficulty in directly measuring the field strength. This is particularly true for the dense cores of molecular clouds, which are the centers of star formation. Working at the University of Virginia, Dr. Li will carry out a program of research to elucidate the role of magnetic fields in the formation of both single stars and stellar systems. For single stars, he will develop a model for isolated magnetized cloud cores that couples dynamics and chemistry. For stellar systems, he will extend the existing axisymmetric calculations of magnetic cloud evolution driven by ambipolar diffusion to non-axisymmetric cases. These non-axisymmetric calculations will enable a detailed investigation into the role of magnetic fields in cloud fragmentation, which lies at the heart of the problem of stellar system formation. The broader impacts of Dr. Li's program are the training of a graduate student at the University of Virginia and close collaboration between researchers specializing in dynamical simulations and astrochemistry. Successful completion of the program will lead to a better understanding of the birth of stars, a topic that captures the public imagination. Dr. Li will integrate his research results into undergraduate courses and public presentations.