Engaging the Mind

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Engaging the Mind Star Formation Throughout
the Universe

• Kelsey Johnson
• UVa, Dept of Astronomy

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The Cosmic Ecosystem
If stars didnt form, none of this other stuff
would happen!
what kind of stars, and how many stars form are
very important
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Why study the formation of really massive stars?

• Creation of visible light
• Evolution of galaxies
• Production of elements heavier than Helium.

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A visualization of the cycle of star death and
star birth
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• Most stars form
• in clusters!
• To understand star formation in general, we need
  to understand the clustered mode

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A Simulation of Star Cluster Formation
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A fossil inthe Milky Way...

• gt 10 billion years old
• 10 light years in size
• a million or more stars

How were these incredible objects formed?
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The evolution of a globular cluster
The bigger and fluffier it is, the less time it
will survive
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First clue Globular clusters live in the halos
of galaxies
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Second clue Their creation requires incredible
pressures and densities in order to produce
massive clusters that are this compact that can
survive the age of the universe
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Colliding Galaxies!

• Globular clusters can form in the present day
  universe under extreme conditions
• These adolescent globulars have been dubbed
  super star clusters

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Galaxies are quite social and interactions are
common
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Looking back in time
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Can globular cluster formation provide insight
about the early universe?

• In principle, yes
• The problem is that star formation occurs within
  dense and dark clouds, and cannot be observed
  with optical light

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View of star-forming cloud transitioning from
visible light to far-infrared light
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Beyond the Visible
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Green Bank TelescopeWest Virginia100x110
m(16,000,000 pounds)Largest Steerable
Telescope in the World!!!(Just a few hours
away!)
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Very Large ArrayNew Mexico
Expands to 22 miles across
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Major Upgrade in progress! Expanded Very Large
Array (available starting 2009)

• 20x more sensitive than the Very Large Array!

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Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA)(early
science 2009, fully online 2012)

• Altitude 17,000 ft
• 20x more sensitive than the VLA
• 10x the resolution of HST
• Virtually unexplored wavelength regime

The ALMA Science Center is operated by NRAO here
in VA!
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The Future is bright!
JWST Spitzer SOFIA
Herschel ALMA CARMA EVLA
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