The Natal Environments of Dense Cores: Constraints on Dense Core Evolution

古德曼博士将探索分子云中密集的核心结构，以更好地了解静止核心与包含它们的湍流分子云环境之间的界面。 这项研究将涵盖位于七个独立的分子云复合体中的200多个核心。 它将结合从发射和消光图中收集到的联合收割机信息，以创建迄今为止最大的尘埃柱密度和核心温度图样本。新绘制的地图将用于解决星星形成理论中的具体未决问题，包括：i）核心向星星形成的演化; ii）核心所在的引力威尔斯井的性质;以及iii）核与更大分子云拓扑结构的关系。这项研究的结果将在几个在线界面上公开提供，包括World Wide Telescope网站和Google Sky。 古德曼博士将参与一所独立学校新科学课程的开发，该课程将纳入这些成果。

Dr. Goodman will explore the dense core structures in molecular clouds, to better understand the interface between quiescent cores and the turbulent molecular cloud environment that contains them. This study will cover more than 200 cores located in seven separate molecular cloud complexes. It will combine information gleaned from both emission and extinction maps to create the largest sample of dust column density and temperature maps of cores that has yet been made. The newly created maps will be used to address specific open issues in star formation theory, including: i) the evolution of cores toward star formation; ii) the nature of the gravitational wells in which cores find themselves; and iii) the relation of cores to the larger molecular cloud topology.The results of this research will be made publicly available on several online interfaces, including the World Wide Telescope site and Google Sky. Dr. Goodman will participate in the development of a new science curriculum at an independent school which will incorporate these results.