CAREER:Steps Toward a Physical Understanding of the Star Formation Law

这项名为《职业生涯：对恒星形成定律的物理理解的步骤》的研究项目的资金将使博拉托博士能够在一系列银河环境中研究恒星形成和气体之间的关系，最终目的是确定驱动恒星形成的物理机制。Spitzer、EVLA、ALMA和JWST等新设备的结合，以及建模技术的最新进步，首次使在观测和模型预测之间进行详细比较成为可能。从低质量星系和螺旋外盘到恒星爆发星系的周围，这一提议将研究在广泛环境中参与恒星形成过程的原子和分子气体。该提议的影响范围更广，从指导本科生到为美国马里兰天文台项目创建西班牙语公开讲座系列。一名毕业生将在助学金期限内获得资助。作为马里兰大学天文台项目的一部分，博拉托博士将用英语和西班牙语进行一系列公开演讲。除了与教育相关的更广泛的影响外，国际天文学联合会还将开发一个英语和西班牙语的“天文工作坊工具箱”，供高中天文课程使用。

The funding of this proposal, titled "CAREER: Steps Toward a Physical Understanding of the Star Formation Law", will allow Dr. Bolato to study the relation between star formation and gas over a range of galactic environments with the ultimate goal of determining the physical mechanisms that drive star formation. The combination of new facilities like Spitzer, EVLA, ALMA, and JWST and the recent advances in modeling techniques make it possible for the first time to make detailed comparisons between observations and model predictions. From low-mass galaxies and the outer disks of spirals to the environs of starburst galaxies, this proposal will study the atomic and molecular gas involved with the process of star formation in a wide range of environments. The broader impacts of the proposal range from the mentoring of undergrad students to the creation of a public lecture series in Spanish for the U. Maryland observatory program. One graduate will be supported for the duration of the grant. Dr. Bolato will give a series of public lectures in both English and Spanish as part of the University of Maryland observatory program. In addition to the education related broader impacts the PI will also develop an "Astronomy Workshop Toolbox" in English and Spanish for use in high-school astronomy classes.