The Formation of Stars: From Clouds to Protostars

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。Stella Offner博士被授予NSF天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在哈佛-史密森天体物理中心开展研究和教育计划。Offner博士将：（1）进行自适应网格细化（AMR）流体动力学自引力湍流模拟的模拟观测，并将这些观测结果与观测到的恒星形成区域的分子线信息进行比较，以制定对大尺度分子云性质和结构的三维理解;（2）通过产生高能量的出射光谱能量分布来研究观测到的原恒星性质。分辨率AMR模拟，以检查磁盘形态，尘埃成分和气体温度;（3）利用AMR多尺度探测技术，研究了原恒星多样性与局部物理化学条件的关系。湍流团簇的群体辐射传输模拟。Offner博士还将开展一项科学教育和推广计划，以鼓励和激发幼儿，特别是女孩和少数民族，在物理学和天文学上。Offner博士将参加女孩科学俱乐部，并开发涉及简单，互动科学实验的额外课程。在成功的K-12教育计划项目ASTRO的基础上，她将创建更多的物理课程（a.k.a.项目物理学），以突出日常生活中的科学原则。她还将通过组织与来访的女科学家共进午餐，以及通过高级教师为本科生举办社交聚会，鼓励天体物理学领域更强大的女性社区。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Dr. Stella Offner is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Dr. Offner will: (1) perform simulated observations of adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) hydrodynamic self-gravitating turbulent simulations and compare these with the molecular-line information of observed star-forming regions to formulate a three-dimensional understanding of large-scale molecular cloud properties and structure; (2) study observed protostellar properties by producing emergent spectral energy distributions of high-resolution AMR simulations in order to examine disk morphology, dust composition and gas temperatures; and (3) investigate how protostellar multiplicity depends upon local physical and chemical conditions by performing AMR multi-group radiative transfer simulations of turbulent clumps.Dr. Offner will also conduct a program of science education and outreach to encourage and excite young children, particularly girls and minorities, in physics and astronomy. Dr. Offner will participate in the Science Club for Girls and develop additional lessons involving simple, interactive science experiments. Building on the successful K-12 education program Project ASTRO, she will create additional physics-oriented lessons (a.k.a. Project Physics) to highlight scientific principles in daily life. She will also encourage a stronger community of women in astrophysics by organizing lunches with visiting female scientists and social gatherings for undergraduates though senior faculty.