CAREER: The Formation of Stars, Planets, and Moons: Applying Similar Physics to Different Systems and Enhancing Scientific Computing Literacy

天文学家现在确信，即使不是大多数恒星，也有许多恒星伴随着行星。他们感兴趣的是了解行星是如何形成的，以及太阳系是否代表了宇宙。据信，行星是由年轻太阳周围的物质盘形成的；对于我们的太阳系来说，这个盘早已不复存在了。在这个项目中，研究人员将使用计算机和他自己的计算机代码来模拟这些圆盘在恒星和磁场的辐射影响下如何形成和变化的特性。他将把他的模型与从太空任务和地面望远镜获得的观测结果进行比较。他将与博物馆和超级计算机中心的教育工作者合作，生成可视化效果，帮助公众了解这项工作。他还将为初级研究人员和他所在机构的学生开发计算方法课程和研讨会。拟议的计划使用3-D磁流体动力学(MHD)程序Athena++。PI将1)模拟辐射对吸积过程的影响，2)构建非理想MHD效应和热力学对原行星盘结构的模型，3)对原行星周围的盘进行与1和2中描述的模拟相似的模拟。他将把他模拟的模型与空间任务(如Spitzer和Herschel)以及地面望远镜(如ALMA、EVLA、VLT、斯巴鲁和双子星)的观测结果进行比较。最后，他将使用TMT等工具对未来十年的观察做出预测。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Astronomers are now convinced that many, if not most, stars are accompanied by planets. They are interested in learning how planets form, and whether or not the Solar System is representative of the Universe. It is believed that planets formed from a disk of material around the young Sun; this disk is long gone for our Solar System. In this project, the investigator will use computers and his own computer code to model the properties of how such disks form and change under the effects of radiation from the star and magnetic fields. He will compare his models with observations obtained from space missions and ground-based telescopes. He will work with educators at museums and supercomputer centers to generate visualizations to help the public understand this work. He will also develop courses and workshops in computational methods for junior researchers and for students at his home institutions.The proposed program uses the 3-D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code Athena++. The PI will 1) Model the effects of radiation on the accretion process, 2) Construct models of both non-ideal MHD effects and thermal dynamics on the structure of protoplanetary disks, and 3) Carry out simulations of disks around protoplanets that share similarities with the simulations described in 1 and 2. He will compare his simulated models with observations from space missions such as Spitzer and Herschel and ground-based telescopes such as ALMA, EVLA, VLT, Subaru, and Gemini. Finally, he will make predictions for future observations in the next decade with instruments such as the TMT.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.