2021 Project Description

Physical conditions in dense cores forming binary stars or multiple systems

Supervisors

Hsi-Wei Yen
Find out more about supervisors on ASIAA website

Task Description and Goals

There are a few hundred billion stars in our galaxy. These stars form via gravitational collapse of dense gas condensation, the so-called dense cores, in molecular clouds. The collapse and fragmentation of dense cores often results in binary or multiple systems. Observations have found that more than half of stars are in binary or multiple systems with various mass ratios and separations. Formation of multiple systems and fragmentation processes in dense cores are still not well understood observationally. Thus, this project aims to characterize physical conditions of a sample of dense cores and discuss and the mechanisms and environments forming single, binary, and multiple systems.

In this project, students are expected to measure gas motions and physical conditions (density, temperature, turbulence, magnetic field, etc.) of a sample of dense cores forming single, binary, and multiple systems using the archival molecular-line, continuum, and polarimetric data obtained with radio interferometers and single-dish telescopes, such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), Green Bank telescope (GBT), and James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). With these measurements, students will compare the physical conditions of dense cores and properties of protostellar systems form inside. In this project, students will learn data analysis and knowledge about star formation, radio observations, and interferometry.

Required Background

Basic knowledge of Physics. Experience in Linux/Unix systems and programming is desirable but not required.