Starless cores: probing the initial conditions of star formation

无星核代表了星星形成的初始条件，对这些核的观测特征对于理解恒星演化至关重要。 例如，最近的观测显示，无恒星的核心质量分布与恒星的初始质量函数之间有惊人的相似性，这表明恒星质量（以及随后的恒星演化）是由形成核心的母云中的物理过程决定的。 我最近的研究集中在几个无星核心的详细观察，为核心形成和演化的模型产生新的约束。 该提案旨在支持维多利亚大学的研究生参与激动人心的新项目，只有现在才有可能与即将到来的工具机会。 这些项目将包括使用新的JCMT仪器SCUBA-2和HARP以及新的HSO仪器PACS和SPIRE从附近的恒星形成分子云中获得前所未有的大量无星核心样本，从而最终对核心结构，动力学和质量做出明确的结论。

Starless cores represent the initial conditions of star formation and observational characterization of these cores is critical to understand stellar evolution.  For example, recent observations have shown a striking similarity between the starless core mass distribution and the stellar Initial Mass Function, suggesting that stellar mass (and subsequent stellar evolution) is determined by physical processes within parent clouds that form cores.  My recent research has focused on detailed observations of several starless cores, yielding new constraints for models of core formation and evolution.  This proposal seeks ONLY support for a graduate student at the University of Victoria to become involved in exciting new projects only now possible with upcoming instrumental opportunities.  These projects will include obtaining unprecedentedly large samples of starless cores from nearby star-forming molecular clouds with the new JCMT instruments SCUBA-2 and HARP and the new HSO instruments PACS and SPIRE, allowing definitive conclusions to be finally made about core structures, dynamics and masses.