Science Support for the SCUBA-2 and Herschel Galactic Plane Surveys: Triggered Star Formation in the Galaxy
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool John Moores University
Department Name: Astrophysics Research Institute
Abstract
A quantitative understanding of how star formation is triggered or induced in the interstellar medium is fundamental to the whole of Astrophysics but is not yet available. It is this mode of star formation which is responsible for the intense starbursts observed in the early Universe. In order to achieve this understanding, we need to measure how the efficiency with which stars are formed from Galactic molecular gas clouds, and the distribution of the masses of the new stars that form, change with the strength of the physical forces which impact on the clouds, such as the winds and expanding ionised regions associated with hot stars, and supernova explosions. We also need to understand the initial conditions of star formation: the origin of the clouds themselves, their characteristic turbulence and how spontaneous star formation is affected by differences in these conditions. We have made significant progress in this direction with comprehensive observational studies of the star-formation content of single Galactic, star-forming, giant molecular clouds. Progress now requires large samples of similar regions with different initial and environmental conditions. The applicant is leading an international project to survey the Plane of the Galaxy using new, STFC-funded, state-of-the art instrumentation at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope in Hawaii. This survey will produce a census of all high-mass star formation in a large fraction of the Galaxy which will lead to significant advances in the field. It will allow, for the first time, the study of representative samples of star-forming regions with a variety of internal and external physical environments. The applicant is also a key active member of an international consortium that has secured 300+ hours of observing time on the Herschel far-infrared space observatory, in order to survey the inner Galactic Plane. This project will provide important data on luminosities and temperatures (hence evolutionary status) for all but the coldest sources detected with SCUBA-2 in the inner Galaxy region. The proposed research will reveal the quantitative effect of initial conditions, external environment, and feedback on the star-formation efficiency and structure mass function. The results will create advances in our understanding of star formation and provide valuable input into other fields, such as the study of formation and evolution of galaxies.
People |
ORCID iD |
Toby Moore (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Molinari S
(2011)
A 100 pc ELLIPTICAL AND TWISTED RING OF COLD AND DENSE MOLECULAR CLOUDS REVEALED BY HERSCHEL AROUND THE GALACTIC CENTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Elia D
(2010)
A Herschel study of YSO evolutionary stages and formation timelines in two fields of the Hi-GAL survey
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Mackenzie T
(2011)
A pilot study for the SCUBA-2 'All-Sky' Survey A pilot study for the SCUBA-2 All-Sky Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Morgan L
(2010)
Ammonia observations of bright-rimmed clouds: establishing a sample of triggered protostars Ammonia observations of bright-rimmed clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Veneziani M
(2017)
An analysis of star formation with Herschel in the Hi-GAL Survey II. The tips of the Galactic bar
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Urquhart J
(2013)
ATLASGAL - properties of compact H ii regions and their natal clumps?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rigby A
(2015)
CHIMPS: the 13 CO/C 18 O ( J = 3 ? 2) Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Molinari S
(2010)
Clouds, filaments, and protostars: The Herschel Hi-GAL Milky Way
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Morgan L
(2009)
CO observations towards bright-rimmed clouds CO observations towards bright-rimmed clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Morgan L
(2013)
Estimating column density from ammonia (1,1) emission in star-forming regions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | A publicly accessible set of survey data of the 850-micron continuum emission from cold dust, constituting a complete census of star-forming activity in the Inner Galactic Plane (the JCMT Plane Survey) |
Exploitation Route | Facilitating research into Galactic star formation. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Hi-Gal-based studies of triggered star formation |
Organisation | Marseille Observatory |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Shared expertise on studying triggered star formation |
Collaborator Contribution | Shared expertise on studying triggered star formation in Spitzer-traced interstellar bubbles |
Impact | Herschel early science paper (Zavagno et al 2010) |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Red MSX Survey (RMS) project |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contribution towards initial framing of the project and several observing runs, especially at ATNF. |
Collaborator Contribution | Significant effort in setting up and compiling a new MSX-selected sample of massive YSOs with a large observational programme over several years |
Impact | Several RMS Survey papers, including the first luminosity function of Massive YSOs in the Galaxy, lifetimes of key evolutionary stages, etc. (Mottram et al 2011). |
Description | Merseyside Astronomy Day VI |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | around 50 members of the public attend a day of talks and planetarium demonstrations at Spaceport, in Wallasey, Merseyside. The talk stimulated questions and discussion. None |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |