SkyMapper and the Southern Sky Survey. The Southern Sky Survey is the first digital imaging survey of the entire southern hemisphere sky. The resulting information on a billion stellar and galaxy images underpins a number of significant national science programs of international prominence. These include the discovery of the oldest stars in our galaxy, fossils from its formation.
The convective boundaries in stars. This project aims to locate the boundaries of convection, a problem in models of stars. It will calculate high-resolution three-dimensional simulations of stars and observe star clusters. The effect of this advance on stellar modelling could be profound since almost all stars contain convective regions. Many branches of astronomy rely on stellar models so the effect could extend far beyond the immediate field, ultimately expanding understanding of the Universe ....The convective boundaries in stars. This project aims to locate the boundaries of convection, a problem in models of stars. It will calculate high-resolution three-dimensional simulations of stars and observe star clusters. The effect of this advance on stellar modelling could be profound since almost all stars contain convective regions. Many branches of astronomy rely on stellar models so the effect could extend far beyond the immediate field, ultimately expanding understanding of the Universe. It could also be crucial in realising the scientific advances of the surveys which are gathering data for up to a billion stars.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101520
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,700.00
Summary
A New Era of Galactic Archaeology with Large Surveys and Machine Learning. The project aims to advance the symbiotic relation between astronomy and machine learning to unravel the origin and the evolutionary history of the Milky Way. The proposed study will base heavily on the data from the Australian-led spectroscopic survey and, as a result, contribute to realising the full potential of this multi-million dollar endeavour. The goal of the study is to walk ourselves back in cosmic time, using t ....A New Era of Galactic Archaeology with Large Surveys and Machine Learning. The project aims to advance the symbiotic relation between astronomy and machine learning to unravel the origin and the evolutionary history of the Milky Way. The proposed study will base heavily on the data from the Australian-led spectroscopic survey and, as a result, contribute to realising the full potential of this multi-million dollar endeavour. The goal of the study is to walk ourselves back in cosmic time, using the most advanced technologies of our time to reveal the Milky Ways oldest story. The investigation aims to consolidate Australia's position in big data astronomy and give Australia a unique competitive advantage in data analytics. Such an endeavour is essential for Australia to maintain its leadership in astronomy.Read moreRead less
FIRE-DRIVE: Feedback in Realistic Environments to DRIVE turbulence. This project aims to understand galactic turbulence, which controls the formation of stars in the Universe and determines galaxy evolution and planet formation. Galactic turbulence is not yet well understood. This project’s goal is to determine the turbulence driving with realistic simulations and compare them to observations, to predict star, planet and galaxy formation and evolution. The simulations and observational tools dev ....FIRE-DRIVE: Feedback in Realistic Environments to DRIVE turbulence. This project aims to understand galactic turbulence, which controls the formation of stars in the Universe and determines galaxy evolution and planet formation. Galactic turbulence is not yet well understood. This project’s goal is to determine the turbulence driving with realistic simulations and compare them to observations, to predict star, planet and galaxy formation and evolution. The simulations and observational tools developed in this project will transform our understanding of galactic cloud and star formation, advancing international and Australian research on galaxies, stars and planets.Read moreRead less
The role of radiation and cosmic rays in galaxy formation. This project aims to solve the enduring question about galaxy formation of why galaxies are so inefficient at turning gas into stars. This project will investigate two possible agents for this inefficiency, the pressures exerted by starlight photons and the relativistic cosmic rays produced by supernovae, using a combination of numerical simulations, basic physical analysis, and comparison to observations. The expected outcome will be a ....The role of radiation and cosmic rays in galaxy formation. This project aims to solve the enduring question about galaxy formation of why galaxies are so inefficient at turning gas into stars. This project will investigate two possible agents for this inefficiency, the pressures exerted by starlight photons and the relativistic cosmic rays produced by supernovae, using a combination of numerical simulations, basic physical analysis, and comparison to observations. The expected outcome will be a greatly improved understanding of the physics of the interaction of radiation and cosmic rays with star-forming interstellar gas. This will help complete the picture of how galaxies like our own came to be, and will provide tools for both future simulations and the interpretation of observations.Read moreRead less
The galactic centre: a laboratory for starburst galaxies. The Milky Way's centre is one of its most captivating regions; here star-formation, and potentially, the region's supermassive black hole, inject enormous amounts of energy and drive a powerful wind of plasma and cosmic rays above the galactic plane. This project will elucidate these processes and help us understand other galactic nuclei.
The Carina Nebula: a massive star factory and the anchor for calibrating extragalactic star formation. Massive stars are vital to the life cycle of a galaxy, providing material and controlling the environment where new stars are made. This project will use the Australia Telescope to map the spectacular Carina Nebula, a hotbed of massive stars, to provide a picture of its stars and gas and a template for understanding star formation in distant galaxies.
The formation of the first stars in the universe. This project aims to solve one of the fundamental problems in astrophysics, how the first stars in the Universe were formed after the Big Bang. Using high-resolution simulations, including magnetic fields and jet/outflow feedback, the mass function of the first stars can be determined. The project will transform our understanding of how the first heavy elements were created in the Universe, providing crucial input for Australian-lead internationa ....The formation of the first stars in the universe. This project aims to solve one of the fundamental problems in astrophysics, how the first stars in the Universe were formed after the Big Bang. Using high-resolution simulations, including magnetic fields and jet/outflow feedback, the mass function of the first stars can be determined. The project will transform our understanding of how the first heavy elements were created in the Universe, providing crucial input for Australian-lead international and national observational surveys, and semi-analytic models of galaxy, star and planet formation, all directly following the formation of the first stars. This project will contribute to three of the six big questions defined in the Decadal Plan for Australian Astronomy 2016-2025, expand knowledge in the physical sciences and drive the next generation of large facilities and Australian frontier technologies.Read moreRead less
The mass function of stars at birth. This project aims to answer three questions surrounding the birth of stars: What determines the mass of stars when they are born in our Galaxy, the so-called Initial Mass Function (IMF)? How does the IMF depend on the physical properties of the gas cloud in which stars form? By what amount do outflows and jets reduce the mean stellar mass and determine the shape of the IMF? It is expected that the project will generate the most realistic computer simulations ....The mass function of stars at birth. This project aims to answer three questions surrounding the birth of stars: What determines the mass of stars when they are born in our Galaxy, the so-called Initial Mass Function (IMF)? How does the IMF depend on the physical properties of the gas cloud in which stars form? By what amount do outflows and jets reduce the mean stellar mass and determine the shape of the IMF? It is expected that the project will generate the most realistic computer simulations of the formation of star clusters to date, with relevance to galaxy formation and evolution. The simulations may also provide the initial conditions for understanding exo-planet formation.Read moreRead less