Formation of Stellar and Substellar Objects across the Universe

我们正在进入一个在恒星和行星形成的观测和数值模拟方面具有前所未有的分辨率和/或敏感性的时代。为了回答有关恒星、盘和行星形成的关键问题，我们的小组提供了计算模型、理论知识和洞察力以及对观测数据的解释的综合。在这笔赠款的五年期间，我们将在四个关键领域取得进展：(1)用新的敏感的高分辨率观测综合新的理论环绕星盘模型，以提高真实性，以了解盘的起源和质量；(2)对宇宙中第一批坍塌物体的形成进行建模，以预测即将到来的敏感的高红移观测；(3)通过将观测与越来越现实的模拟制作的合成地图进行比较，描述星际分子云中的磁场和密度结构，以了解丝状结构、小尺度上的速度一致性和低密度区域的低恒星形成效率；(4)通过数学模型和对附近星系中已分解的恒星群的观测来表征恒星和星下天体的初始质量函数。我们已经开展了许多国际合作，并期待积极参与天文学社区，为宇宙结构形成提供新的见解。

We are entering an era of unprecedented resolution and/or sensitivity in observations and numerical simulations of star and planet formation. Our group offers a synthesis of computational modeling, theoretical knowledge and insight, and interpretation of observational data in order to answer key questions about star, disk, and planet formation. Over the five year period of this grant, we will move forward in four key areas; (1) a synthesis of new theoretical circumstellar disk models of increasing realism with new sensitive high-resolution observations, in order to understand disk origins and masses; (2) modeling of the formation of the first collapsed objects in the universe, in anticipation of upcoming sensitive high-redshift observations; (3) characterization of magnetic field and density structure within interstellar molecular clouds through a comparison of observations with synthetic maps made from increasingly realistic simulations, in order to understand filamentary structure, velocity coherence at small scales, and low star formation efficiency in low density regions; (4) characterization of the initial mass function of stars and substellar objects through mathematical models and observations of resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies. We have many international collaborations in place and expect to participate actively in the astronomical community to contribute new insights into structure formation in the universe.