Cold Gas in Hot Galaxies

星系究竟是如何形成和发展的，一直是天文学家们所困惑的谜团。 因此，科学家们解开星系形成和发展的线索至关重要。 该项目追求三个主要目标，以推动这一领域的发展。 第一个目标是通过研究早期类型（椭圆形和透镜状）星系的冷气体的详细性质来了解它们的组装，相互作用和吸积历史。 第二个目标是测试星际介质结构的经验和理论模型及其对星星形成效率的影响。 具体来说，星际介质理论模型的真正考验将是为晚型螺旋发展的模型是否可以扩展到椭圆星系和透镜星系内部非常不同的条件。 第三个目标是对活动星系核（AGN）驱动的反馈在清除星系中的冷气体中的作用进行观测约束，从而改变它们的形态和颜色，并为建立今天的哈勃序列做出贡献。为了实现这三个目标，研究人员将使用体积有限的、经过充分研究的ATLAS-3D样本对附近早期星系进行观测。 现有的毫米波干涉仪和美国国家射电天文台（NRAO）的扩展甚大阵列（EVLA）将映射跟踪分子物种作为天体化学探针的性质的冷ISM，并将进行深入的观测无线电连续辐射低级别星星形成活动和低级别AGN活动。 天体化学工作也将适用于早期的阿塔卡马大型毫米/亚毫米阵列（阿尔马）科学提案。在教育方面，该项目将支持两名研究生研究助理三年，以及一名本科生研究员。该项目还将通过开发与研究项目相关的射电天文学课程，在新墨西哥州技术学院为K-12教师提供的科学教学硕士课程中提供K-12教师科学培训。 受益于该计划的教师将教授代表性不足的学生，从而加强他们在STEM职业中的曝光和培训。 为K-12教师提供的研究和培训是使用射电望远镜进行的。 教师们不仅学习如何收集和检查射电望远镜数据一样的研究项目，但他们也学习如何在新墨西哥州专业射电望远镜的功能，一个巨大的和罕见的教师培训机会，整合研究和教育。

Exactly how galaxies form and develop is a mystery that has long eluded astronomers. So, it is crucial for scientists to unravel clues of galaxy formation and development. This project pursues three primary goals to move this field forward. The first goal is to read the assembly, interaction, and accretion history of early-type (elliptical and lenticular) galaxies through studies of the detailed properties of their cold gas. The second goal is to test empirical and theoretical models of the structure of the interstellar medium and its effect on star formation efficiency. Specifically, the true test of theoretical models of the interstellar medium will be whether the models developed for late-type spirals can be extended to the very different conditions inside elliptical and lenticular galaxies. The third goal is to pursue observational constraints on the role of active galactic nuclei (AGN)-driven feedback in clearing cold gas from galaxies, thus transforming their morphology and color and contributing to the establishment of today's Hubble sequence.To accomplish these three goals, the investigators will use the observations of the volume-limited, well-studied ATLAS-3D sample of nearby early-type galaxies. Existing millimeter interferometers and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's (NRAO's) Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) will map trace molecular species as astrochemical probes of the properties of the cold ISM, and will make deep observations of radio continuum emission from low level star formation activity and low level AGN activity. The astrochemical work will also be suitable for early Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) science proposals.Educationally, the project will support two graduate student research assistants for three years as well as an undergraduate researcher. The project will also provide K-12 teacher training in science through the development of a radio astronomy course, related to the research project, delivered in a Master of Science Teaching program offered at New Mexico Tech for K-12 teachers. The teachers who benefit from this program will be teaching underrepresented students and thereby strengthening their exposure in and training for STEM careers. The research and training offered to K-12 teachers is hands-on using a radio telescope. The teachers learn not only how to collect and examine radio telescope data like the research project, but they also learn how the professional radio telescopes in New Mexico function, a tremendous and rare teacher training opportunity that integrates research and education.