RUI: Beads, Knots, and Gems: Star Formation Processes in Interacting Galaxies

RUI：珠子、结和宝石：相互作用星系中的恒星形成过程

• 批准号: 1311935
• 负责人: Beverly Smith
• 金额: $ 13.37万
• 依托单位: East Tennessee State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1311935&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Beads; Knots; Gems; Star

A longstanding problem in astrophysics is to understand how galaxies form and develop throughout their lifetimes. Such understanding is necessary to uncover how our Universe evolved and to gain insight into the origin of our own Milky Way Galaxy. One important aspect of understanding galaxy formation and evolution is to decipher how galaxies merge and interact and how such processes affect the formation of new stars.This project is a multi-wavelength study of 42 nearby strongly-interacting pre-merger interacting galaxies. Building on extensive prior data collection, this project will utilize GALEX UV, ground- and space-based optical, Spitzer and Herschel infrared, and VLA 21 cm HI radio observations, and it will compare with a matching control sample of normal spirals. This study will address questions of star formation triggering in interacting galaxies and in tidal features, compared to those of spiral galaxies. The PI will use both numerical and analytical models of the interactions and population synthesis models. The main goal is to study the nature of star formation and its triggering mechanisms in interacting galaxies, and to compare observations with simulations.The project will support undergraduate student researchers who will be encouraged to present their results at local and regional conferences. The PI has a strong history of involving undergraduate students in her research, including a high proportion of female students. The institution is located near the heart of the southern Appalachian region; so, another broader impact of this award will be to expand high quality science education opportunities to underserved students.This project is jointly funded by the Division of Astronomical Sciences and the Office of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

天体物理学的一个长期问题是了解星系在整个生命的一生中如何形成和发展。 这种理解对于发现我们的宇宙如何发展并洞悉我们自己银河系的起源是必要的。 理解星系形成和进化的一个重要方面是破译星系如何合并和相互作用，以及此类过程如何影响新恒星的形成。该项目是对附近42个紧密相互交互的预交前相互作用星系的多波长研究。 该项目以广泛的先验数据收集为基础，将利用Galex UV，地面和空间的光学，Spitzer和Herschel红外线以及VLA 21 cm HI无线电观测值，它将与正常螺旋的匹配控制样本进行比较。 与螺旋星系相比，这项研究将解决相互作用星系和潮汐特征中恒星形成的问题。 PI将使用相互作用和总体合成模型的数值和分析模型。 主要目标是研究恒星形成的性质及其在相互作用星系中的触发机制，并将观察结果与模拟进行比较。该项目将支持本科生研究人员，他们将受到鼓励在当地和区域会议上呈现其结果。 PI有悠久的历史，让本科生参与她的研究，包括大部分的女学生。 该机构位于阿巴拉契亚南部地区的中心附近。因此，该奖项的另一个更广泛的影响是将高质量的科学教育机会扩大到服务不足的学生。该项目由天文学科学和实验计划的办公室共同资助，以刺激竞争性研究（EPSCOR）。