Research

Star Formation and The Interstellar Medium

Below is the result of a numerical simulation of the evolution of the Galactic magnetic field. The Galactic midplane is a horizontal line that bisects the image. A magnetic field initially parallel to the midplane suffers a magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability, and loops of magnetic field lines are pushed above and below the midplane. Gas density condensations occur at the troughs of the field lines.

Understanding the formation of stars is one of the fundamental challenges in modern astrophysics. Star formation is also tied in to the larger scale processes that shape the interstellar medium of our Galaxy. The study of these complex gas dynamical systems requires modeling the effects of gravity, turbulence, and magnetic fields, all of which play important roles.

At Western, we have expertise in the theoretical and computational means to model interstellar gas dynamics, including star formation. There is particular expertise in the theory of gravitational collapse and the role of magnetic fields. We have access to the latest observational data through participation in the Canadian Galactic Plane Survey Consortium and the Canadian JCMT Star Formation Consortium, as well as ties to international collaborators.

Recent work has also focused on the intrinsic shapes of star-forming regions which are seen only in projection on the sky. Many opportunities exist for fundamental contributions to this emerging field of astrophysics.

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