The Cygnus X Region in 3D

拟议的研究项目将探索我们银河系中最大和最复杂的分子云和星星形成复合体之一：天鹅座X区域的三维结构。在这份提案中，我申请资助两名研究生，培训科学前沿的下一代射电天文学家，并为阿尔马望远镜的到来做好准备。我们正在用阿尔马望远镜以前所未有的细节解开围绕星星形成过程的谜团。该项目将使我们离解决方案更近一步，并可能为充分利用阿尔马的能力提供所需的基础工作。 关于恒星从大质量分子云中产生的过程，仍然有许多悬而未决的问题。这一过程与星际介质中分子物质的生命周期密切相关。我想通过对我们银河系中最大和最复杂的星星形成复合体之一：天鹅座X区域进行大规模分子谱线调查，来解决许多悬而未决的问题。为了揭示天鹅座X及其组成部分的真实性质，必须进行亚角分分辨率的三维观测，以揭示许多天体的动力学相互关系。由于许多物体沿着视线沿着叠加，这是天空中最复杂的区域之一，对单个物体的研究具有挑战性。尽管如此，在一个小的视野内，我们可以研究非常广泛的星际过程。我们能够在外部星系中看到的是像天鹅座X这样的天体，而不是更小、更不活跃的区域。了解天鹅座X将是成功解释我们对更遥远宇宙观测的一步。

The proposed research project will explore the three-dimensional structure of one of the largest and most complex molecular cloud and star forming complexes in our Galaxy: the Cygnus X region. In this proposal I apply for funds to support two graduate students, training the next generation of radio astronomers at the scientific frontier and preparing them for the arrival of the ALMA telescope. We are on the path to solving the mysteries surrounding the star formation process at unprecedented detail with the ALMA telescope. This project will get us one step closer to the solution and may provide the ground work needed to fully exploit the capabilities of ALMA. There are still many outstanding questions about the process whereby stars are created from massive molecular clouds. This process is heavily connected to the life-cycle of the molecular material in the interstellar medium. I would like to address the many outstanding questions by a large-scale molecular line survey of one of the largest and most complex star forming complexes in our Galaxy: the Cygnus X region. To unveil the true nature of Cygnus~X and its components a three-dimensional survey at sub-arcminute resolution is necessary in order to reveal the dynamical interrelation of the many objects. With many objects superimposed along the line of sight, this is one of the most complex regions in the sky and the study of individual objects is challenging. Nevertheless, within one small field of view we can investigate a very wide range of interstellar processes. It is objects such as Cygnus X, and not smaller, less active regions, that we are able to see in external galaxies. Understanding Cygnus X will be a step towards successful interpretation of our observations of the more distant universe.