2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Testing Fundamental Star Formation Models in the Extreme Environments around the Galactic Center Using ALMA
| Project/Area Number |
20K14528
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| Research Institution | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan |
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Principal Investigator |
Lu Xing 国立天文台, アルマプロジェクト, 特任研究員 (40794425)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Star Formation / Galactic Center |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY2020, I published one paper based on ALMA observations of the Central Molecular Zone of our Milky Way (Lu et al. 2021, ApJ, 909, 177). I found 43 protostellar outflows in clouds that were thought to be quiescent in terms of star formation, and proved that there is already embedded star formation in them. In addition, I discussed the chemistry related to these outflows, and found that the chemistry is indistinguishable from that in outflows in nearby star forming regions. This suggests that not only physics, but also chemistry in the Galactic Center and in the solar neighborhood can be unified.
I also joined several collaborative researches related to the physics and chemistry in the star formation regions around the Galactic Center, for example, Walker et al. 2021, MNRAS, 503, 77, and Zeng et al. 2020, 497, 4986. We found that the canonical star formation framework (Jeans fragmentation, disk-mediated gas accretion, etc.) is solid even in the extreme environment around the Galactic Center.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
In FY2020, I completed data analysis of the new ALMA observations and published one paper. I attended one conference remotely to advertize my research.
However, the overall research plan is significantly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. For example, I was not able to attend the star formation conference in France as planned. I was not able to visit Nagoya University to talk to collaborators face-to-face as planned. The data analysis plan is also slightly delayed because I had to work from home and it has been inconvenient to get access to the data reduction servers of NAOJ.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In FY2021, I plan to continue to analyze the ALMA data and focus on the search of protostellar disks in the Central Molecular Zone. This will be the first discovery of protostellar disks in this region. In addition, I plan to analyze the VLA data about ammonia masers in the Central Molecular Zone. In summary, at least two papers will be published based on these results.
I also plan to visit colleagues in Japan as well as in other countries (USA, UK, Chile) if possible, however, this will depend on the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic.
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| Causes of Carryover |
My research plan in FY2020 is significantly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, I cannot use the amount as planned (for example, attending international conferences). Therefore, the amount has to be used in the next fiscal year (FY2021).
I plan to use it to attend conferences if possible, depending on the situation of the new coronavirus epidemic. I also plan to use it to purchase computing facilities (servers, hard drives) for data reduction and analysis.
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