Pre-stellar and protostellar core evolution with Herschel, SCUBA2 and ALMA.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Central Lancashire
Department Name: Sch of Comput Engin and Physical Sci
Abstract
This proposal addresses some of the key questions in star formation: what determines the stellar IMF and the pre-stellar core mass function (CMF); how are they linked; how do the properties of pre-stellar cores depend on the filamentary structures in which they emerge; and how do pre-stellar cores form and evolve? Our goal is to address these issues by exploiting the wavelength coverage and resolution offered by Herschel, SCUBA-2, ALMA, and other complementary instruments. Ward-Thompson (30% FEC requested) is one of the four PIs of the SCUBA-2 Gould Belt legacy survey team; he is a senior member of the SPIRE SAG-3 Gould Belt survey team; PDRA Kirk (100% support requested) is a member of both teams. It is proposed that Ward-Thompson and Kirk will work on data reduction, detailed analysis and scientific interpretation of starless, pre-stellar, and proto-stellar core properties and evolution, using the multi-wavelength data available, to determine the evolutionary sequence of cores, and the dependence of core properties and evolution on cloud and filament environment.
We have previously shown that the pre-stellar core mass function (CMF) has the same shape as the stellar IMF at high masses, and that the CMF continues to trace the IMF down to the sub-stellar mass regime. A consequenceof these discoveries is that it appears that to explain the IMF, one must understand how the pre-stellar CMF is determined. Only modest surveys were possible in the SCUBA era. Now, using Herschel and SCUBA-2, it is possible to make complete, distance-limited surveys, out to 500 parsecs, with excellent spatial resolution, and to follow up with ALMA at very high resolution. The Herschel Gould Belt Survey (GBS) has produced a rich data-set that has yet to be fully exploited.
Early analysis has concentrated on the detection of star-forming cores, statistical investigation of their basic properties through measurements of total flux density and SED fitting, and the identification of a clear link between core formation and the ubiquitous filamentary structure that pervades molecular clouds. Important questions remain, which we can answer by using the multi-wavelength Herschel and SCUBA-2 data with complementary observations:
What are the initial conditions for the collapse of pre-stellar cores?
How is the pre-stellar core mass function (CMF) determined?
How does core evolution proceed?
How do the temperature and density structure, the accretion rate, and the total luminosity evolve?
What are the time-scales for the various stages in this process?
How do the basic properties of cores and of the CMF depend on environment?
How does the CMF map onto the stellar IMF?
We can address these questions by: (i) identifying all the cores in the various surveys and clarifying the statistical properties of both pre- and proto-stellar cores; and (ii) using the large data sets available to reveal the influence of filamentary structure and other aspects of environment on core properties and evolution.
We have previously shown that the pre-stellar core mass function (CMF) has the same shape as the stellar IMF at high masses, and that the CMF continues to trace the IMF down to the sub-stellar mass regime. A consequenceof these discoveries is that it appears that to explain the IMF, one must understand how the pre-stellar CMF is determined. Only modest surveys were possible in the SCUBA era. Now, using Herschel and SCUBA-2, it is possible to make complete, distance-limited surveys, out to 500 parsecs, with excellent spatial resolution, and to follow up with ALMA at very high resolution. The Herschel Gould Belt Survey (GBS) has produced a rich data-set that has yet to be fully exploited.
Early analysis has concentrated on the detection of star-forming cores, statistical investigation of their basic properties through measurements of total flux density and SED fitting, and the identification of a clear link between core formation and the ubiquitous filamentary structure that pervades molecular clouds. Important questions remain, which we can answer by using the multi-wavelength Herschel and SCUBA-2 data with complementary observations:
What are the initial conditions for the collapse of pre-stellar cores?
How is the pre-stellar core mass function (CMF) determined?
How does core evolution proceed?
How do the temperature and density structure, the accretion rate, and the total luminosity evolve?
What are the time-scales for the various stages in this process?
How do the basic properties of cores and of the CMF depend on environment?
How does the CMF map onto the stellar IMF?
We can address these questions by: (i) identifying all the cores in the various surveys and clarifying the statistical properties of both pre- and proto-stellar cores; and (ii) using the large data sets available to reveal the influence of filamentary structure and other aspects of environment on core properties and evolution.
Planned Impact
The Outreach and Impact Case (see attached) presents the track record of Ward-Thompson and Kirk at Cardiff, as well as the context and track record at UCLan, together with Ward-Thompson's plans for the future at UCLan. This makes it slightly more complex than simply presenting a single institution's track record and future plans. However, this hopefully makes clear the applicants' strong track record in impact and outreach.
Ward-Thompson has an extremely strong track record of Impact and Outreach, which he intends to maintain and expand over the period of the proposed grant. These plans are also embedded in an overall strategy for both Outreach and Knowledge Exchange within the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI) at UCLan.
As well as interaction with the media, Ward-Thompson has conducted an extensive programme of public engagement through a wide range of events from Open Days, Public Observing, Schools Lectures and Teacher workshops.
UCLan has a very strong outreach programme, and Ward-Thompson intends to encourage this activity. UCLan's presence in East Lancashire and West Cumbria means that it is ideally placed to present STFC funded science to a large population which would not otherwise be easily reached. This includes regions with very low participation rates in Higher Education.
UCLan has a purpose-built observatory at Alston, 8 miles from Preston, incorporating a planetarium classroom, the Wilfred Hall Telescope, and extensive outdoor and small dome observing facilities. This facility is used to high effectiveness for undergraduate teaching, residential courses for distance learning events and public engagement events.
Ward-Thompson himself has always had a strong personal interest in public outreach activities. He has given many talks in schools, astronomical societies, and to other general audiences. He has talked at meetings of the 'Round Table', the 'Probus' club, and other societies of business people. He has appeared 6 times on the BBC TV Programme 'The Sky at Night', and has been invited to the 55th Anniversary programme in April 2012. He has also appeared on the BBC Radio 4 'Today' Programme. In recognition of his outreach work, in January 2012, Ward-Thompson was elected as President of the UK 'Society for Popular Astronomy' (SPA), the largest society of amateur astronomers in the UK.
Ward-Thompson put significant extra effort into outreach activities during the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009. He led the Cardiff IYA Programme of events. One of the most successful of these that he organized was the 'Spring Moonwatch' campaign, during which several hundred people came and looked at the Moon through Cardiff telescopes. A photograph of the Cardiff Moonwatch event featured on the front cover of the magazine 'Science in Parliament', the in-house science magazine of the Houses of Parliament - issue 66.2, Whitsun 2009.
As Deputy Head of School in Cardiff, Ward-Thompson oversaw in 2010 the introduction of a new degree scheme in 'Physics with a Professional Placement' in which the student spends a year in a professional firm as part of their degree, to gain experience of work in an industrial or commercial environment. The aim of the placement is to enable the student to gain an appreciation of the context for Physics in a work-place situation and to enhance their employability skills. He plans a similar degree scheme at UCLan.
Ward-Thompson has an extremely strong track record of Impact and Outreach, which he intends to maintain and expand over the period of the proposed grant. These plans are also embedded in an overall strategy for both Outreach and Knowledge Exchange within the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute (JHI) at UCLan.
As well as interaction with the media, Ward-Thompson has conducted an extensive programme of public engagement through a wide range of events from Open Days, Public Observing, Schools Lectures and Teacher workshops.
UCLan has a very strong outreach programme, and Ward-Thompson intends to encourage this activity. UCLan's presence in East Lancashire and West Cumbria means that it is ideally placed to present STFC funded science to a large population which would not otherwise be easily reached. This includes regions with very low participation rates in Higher Education.
UCLan has a purpose-built observatory at Alston, 8 miles from Preston, incorporating a planetarium classroom, the Wilfred Hall Telescope, and extensive outdoor and small dome observing facilities. This facility is used to high effectiveness for undergraduate teaching, residential courses for distance learning events and public engagement events.
Ward-Thompson himself has always had a strong personal interest in public outreach activities. He has given many talks in schools, astronomical societies, and to other general audiences. He has talked at meetings of the 'Round Table', the 'Probus' club, and other societies of business people. He has appeared 6 times on the BBC TV Programme 'The Sky at Night', and has been invited to the 55th Anniversary programme in April 2012. He has also appeared on the BBC Radio 4 'Today' Programme. In recognition of his outreach work, in January 2012, Ward-Thompson was elected as President of the UK 'Society for Popular Astronomy' (SPA), the largest society of amateur astronomers in the UK.
Ward-Thompson put significant extra effort into outreach activities during the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009. He led the Cardiff IYA Programme of events. One of the most successful of these that he organized was the 'Spring Moonwatch' campaign, during which several hundred people came and looked at the Moon through Cardiff telescopes. A photograph of the Cardiff Moonwatch event featured on the front cover of the magazine 'Science in Parliament', the in-house science magazine of the Houses of Parliament - issue 66.2, Whitsun 2009.
As Deputy Head of School in Cardiff, Ward-Thompson oversaw in 2010 the introduction of a new degree scheme in 'Physics with a Professional Placement' in which the student spends a year in a professional firm as part of their degree, to gain experience of work in an industrial or commercial environment. The aim of the placement is to enable the student to gain an appreciation of the context for Physics in a work-place situation and to enhance their employability skills. He plans a similar degree scheme at UCLan.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Derek Ward-Thompson (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Ashton P
(2018)
First Observation of the Submillimeter Polarization Spectrum in a Translucent Molecular Cloud
in The Astrophysical Journal
Benedettini M
(2015)
Filaments in the Lupus molecular clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Benedettini M
(2018)
A catalogue of dense cores and young stellar objects in the Lupus complex based on Herschel Gould Belt Survey observations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bresnahan D
(2018)
The dense cores and filamentary structure of the molecular cloud in Corona Australis: Herschel SPIRE and PACS observations from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Broekhoven-Fiene H
(2018)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: A First Look at the Auriga-California Molecular Cloud with SCUBA-2
in The Astrophysical Journal
Buckle J
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: SCUBA-2 observations of circumstellar discs in L 1495
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Villiers H
(2014)
Methanol maser associated outflows: detection statistics and properties
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Villiers H
(2015)
6.7-GHz methanol maser associated outflows: an evolutionary sequence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Didelon P
(2015)
From forced collapse to H ii region expansion in Mon R2: Envelope density structure and age determination with Herschel
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Elia D
(2017)
The Hi-GAL compact source catalogue - I. The physical properties of the clumps in the inner Galaxy (-71$_{.}^{\circ}$0 < l < 67$_{.}^{\circ}$0)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fallscheer C
(2013)
HERSCHEL REVEALS MASSIVE COLD CLUMPS IN NGC 7538
in The Astrophysical Journal
Galitzki N
(2014)
The Next Generation BLAST Experiment
in Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation
Gallaway M
(2013)
The mid-infrared environments of 6.7 GHz methanol masers from the Methanol Multi-Beam Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green J
(2017)
The 6-GHz multibeam maser survey - II. Statistical analysis and Galactic distribution of 6668-MHz methanol masers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Holland W
(2017)
SONS: The JCMT legacy survey of debris discs in the submillimetre
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Juvela M
(2018)
Herschel and SCUBA-2 observations of dust emission in a sample of Planck cold clumps
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kirk H
(2016)
THE JCMT GOULD BELT SURVEY: A FIRST LOOK AT DENSE CORES IN ORION B
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kirk H
(2018)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: SCUBA-2 Data Reduction Methods and Gaussian Source Recovery Analysis
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Kirk J
(2013)
First results from the Herschel? Gould Belt Survey in Taurus
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kwon J
(2018)
A First Look at BISTRO Observations of the ? Oph-A core
in The Astrophysical Journal
Könyves V
(2015)
A census of dense cores in the Aquila cloud complex: SPIRE/PACS observations from the Herschel Gould Belt survey
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Liu J
(2019)
The JCMT BISTRO Survey: The Magnetic Field in the Starless Core ? Ophiuchus C
in The Astrophysical Journal
Liu T
(2018)
The TOP-SCOPE Survey of Planck Galactic Cold Clumps: Survey Overview and Results of an Exemplar Source, PGCC G26.53+0.17
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Liu T
(2018)
A Holistic Perspective on the Dynamics of G035.39-00.33: The Interplay between Gas and Magnetic Fields
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mairs S
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: a quantitative comparison between SCUBA-2 data reduction methods
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marsh K
(2014)
Properties of starless and prestellar cores in Taurus revealed by Herschel? SPIRE/PACS imaging
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Matthews T
(2014)
LUPUS I OBSERVATIONS FROM THE 2010 FLIGHT OF THE BALLOON-BORNE LARGE APERTURE SUBMILLIMETER TELESCOPE FOR POLARIMETRY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Minier V
(2013)
Ionisation impact of high-mass stars on interstellar filaments A Herschel study of the RCW 36 bipolar nebula in Vela C ???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Palmeirim P
(2013)
Herschel view of the Taurus B211/3 filament and striations: evidence of filamentary growth?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pattle K
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: first results from the SCUBA-2 observations of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud and a virial analysis of its prestellar core population
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pattle K
(2017)
The JCMT BISTRO Survey: The Magnetic Field Strength in the Orion A Filament
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pattle K
(2018)
First Observations of the Magnetic Field inside the Pillars of Creation: Results from the BISTRO Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pattle K
(2016)
An analytical model for the evolution of starless cores - I. The constant-mass case
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Poidevin F
(2014)
COMPARISON OF PRESTELLAR CORE ELONGATIONS AND LARGE-SCALE MOLECULAR CLOUD STRUCTURES IN THE LUPUS I REGION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Quinn C
(2014)
The Labyrinth of Star Formation
Rayner TSM
(2017)
Far-infrared observations of a massive cluster forming in the Monoceros R2 filament hub?.
in Astronomy and astrophysics
Rivera-Ingraham A
(2017)
Galactic cold cores VIII. Filament formation and evolution: Filament properties in context with evolutionary models ?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Roy A
(2015)
Possible link between the power spectrum of interstellar filaments and the origin of the prestellar core mass function
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Roy A
(2014)
Reconstructing the density and temperature structure of prestellar cores from Herschel data: A case study for B68 and L1689B
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rumble D
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: evidence for radiative heating in Serpens MWC 297 and its influence on local star formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Russeil D
(2013)
The Herschel view of the massive star-forming region NGC 6334
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rygl K
(2014)
A Herschel and BIMA study of the sequential star formation near the W 48A H ii region?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sadavoy S
(2013)
THE HERSCHEL AND JCMT GOULD BELT SURVEYS: CONSTRAINING DUST PROPERTIES IN THE PERSEUS B1 CLUMP WITH PACS, SPIRE, AND SCUBA-2
in The Astrophysical Journal
Salji C
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: properties of star-forming filaments in Orion A North
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Salji C
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: constraints on prestellar core properties in Orion A North
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Santos F
(2017)
Comparing Submillimeter Polarized Emission with Near-infrared Polarization of Background Stars for the Vela C Molecular Cloud
in The Astrophysical Journal
Schneider N
(2013)
Cluster-formation in the Rosette molecular cloud at the junctions of filaments ( Corrigendum )
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Schneider N
(2013)
WHAT DETERMINES THE DENSITY STRUCTURE OF MOLECULAR CLOUDS? A CASE STUDY OF ORION B WITH HERSCHEL
in The Astrophysical Journal
Seo Y
(2015)
AN AMMONIA SPECTRAL MAP OF THE L1495-B218 FILAMENTS IN THE TAURUS MOLECULAR CLOUD. I. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FILAMENTS AND DENSE CORES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Seo Y
(2019)
An Ammonia Spectral Map of the L1495-B218 Filaments in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. II. CCS and HC 7 N Chemistry and Three Modes of Star Formation in the Filaments
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Description | Many public lectures and talks have been given, as well as papers in the popular scientific literature. |
| Sector | Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Herschel-SPIRE Consortium |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We helped with the data reduction and analysis of the Herschel Gould Belt Survey. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The SPIRE Consortium owns all of the data. |
| Impact | See all outputs on Herschel data. |
| Description | JCMT Gould Belt Survey |
| Organisation | Joint Astronomy Centre |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We reduced and analysed data from the JCMT SCUBA2 Gould Belt Survey |
| Collaborator Contribution | JCMT provided the data. |
| Impact | See all outputs related to JCMT data. |
| Description | Outreach Activities 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stargazing Live - Talk 08/01/2014 Alston 25 people Talk at SPA Meeting, London 25/01/2014 London 100 Astrofest 7-8/02/2014 London 200 Careers fair, Westholme School 20/03/2014 Westholme School 200 Alston residential weekend 21-23/03/2014 Alston 25 Invited talk, St Marys Brownedge School 01/04/2014 Bamber Bridge 60 Memorial service for Jeremiah Horrocks 06/04/2014 Much Hoole Parish Church 70 Open day talk 05/04/2014 UCLan 40 Talk at SPA Meeting, London 26/04/2014 London 200 Open day talk 21/06/2014 UCLan 40 Lancashire Science Festival 24-26/06/2014 UCLan 7000 Huddersfield Astronomical Society 05/09/2014 Huddersfield 20 All talks were well received |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/events/ |
| Description | Outreach activities 2012/13 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 27/10/2012 London 200 people . BBC Radio Lancashire - Breakfast Show 06/05/2013 Broadcast . Astrofest 8-9/02/2013 Kensington Town Hall 2500 . Transit of Venus Play 06/11/2013 Public Performance at UCLan 200 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 26/01/2013 London 200 . Alston Residential weeked 02/03/2013 Alston 20 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 27/04/2013 London 200 . CFA 20th Anniversary event 08/05/2013 Westleigh conference center, Preston 50 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 11/05/2013 UCLan 50 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 15/06/2013 Royal Observatory, Edinburgh 100 . Lancashire Science Festival 29/06/2013 UCLan 1000 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 27/07/2013 London 200 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 21-22/09/2013 Queen's University Belfast / Armagh Observatory 50 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 12/10/2013 Institute of Astrophysics, Cambridge 200 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 26/10/2013 London 200 . Doctor Who Science Festival 16/11/2013 UCLan 1000 . Society for Popular Astronomy meeting 07/12/2013 Cardiff 100 All talks received positive feedback |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
| URL | http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/outreach/ |