Minor icy bodies (origin and evolution) and cosmic dust

天体物理学和行星科学中心请求长期资助，以支持一个成功建立的关于太阳系、恒星和恒星系统起源的研究项目。我们希望探索新的物理概念，并开发与特定物理过程，结构和组件相关的新想法。天体物理学中仍待解答的最关键问题之一是：恒星是如何形成的？即使使用现代的ccd，我们的经典光学望远镜的作用也是有限的，因为即使是红光也不能穿透恒星形成区域。此外，当我们意识到恒星形成区域是短暂的云时，我们的经典理论已经失败了。近年来，我们发现了观测和理论技术来克服这些问题，共同取得进展。至少我们现在可以回答这个问题：我们如何知道恒星正在形成？因此，红外天文学和数值模拟为揭示和解释恒星形成的物理过程提供了一种新的手段。英国天体物理学家现在在一流的观测项目和设备，以及先进的数值方法和计算基础设施的最前沿。肯特大学的研究人员旨在通过红外观测、三维数值模拟和先进理论建模的综合项目保持在前沿，所有这些都旨在探索控制原恒星和包含它们的云的快速演化的物理学。通过直接预测和开发，滚动拨款将支持英国在空间和地面项目上的投资。这种瞬态物体的物理学涉及到不同情况下的超高速流。然而，即使演化到太阳系，超高速仍然扮演着重要的角色。肯特提供了以远远超过每秒一公里的速度探索撞击的机会，这对空间科学和探索的许多主题至关重要。在这样的影响下，物体的进化和生存是太阳系进化的一个主要话题（例如陨石坑，灾难性的破坏等）。此外，太空任务在超高速撞击中捕获的小粒子是关于太阳系的丰富信息来源。

The Centre for Astrophysics \& Planetary Science requests long-term funding to support a successful established programme of research into the origins of the solar system, stars and stellar systems. We wish to explore novel physical concepts and develop fresh ideas associated with specific physical processes, configurations and components. One of the most crucial questions in Astrophysics remaining to be answered is: how do stars form? Even with modern CCDs, our classical optical telescopes are of limited use since even red light cannot penetrate out of star forming regions. Furthermore, our classical theory has stumbled and failed as we realise that star forming regions are ephemeral clouds. In recent years, we have found observational and theoretical techniques to overcome these problems and together make progress. At least we can now answer the question: how do we know a star is forming? Thus, infrared astronomy and numerical simulations have provided a new means to uncover and explain the physics of star formation. UK astrophysicists are now at the forefront with superb observing programmes and facilities, as well as advanced numerical methods and computing infrastructure. The Kent researchers aim to remain at the forefront through an integrated programme of infrared observations, three dimensional numerical simulations and advanced theoretical modelling, all aimed at exploring the physics governing the rapid evolution of protostars and the clouds which contain them. Through direct predictions and exploitation, the rolling grant will support the UK investment in space and ground-based projects. This physics of transient objects involves hypervelocity flows in diverse contexts. However, even once evolved into the solar system, hypervelocity continues to play a prominent role. Kent offers the opportunity to explore impacts at speeds far in excess of one kilometre per second, crucial to many topics in space science and exploration. The evolution and survival of objects against such impacts is a major topic in Solar System evolution (e.g. cratering, catastrophic disruption etc.). In addition, small particles captured by space missions in hypervelocity impacts are a rich source of information about the Solar System.