Project B
Tracing shock-driven shaping of molecular clouds as a trigger for star formation
Elena Redaelli (ESO), Marta De Simone (ESO)
Stars form from the collapse of overdensities in molecular clouds. But what triggers the formation of these overdensities and the subsequent gravitational collapse? External feedback, such as expanding bubbles or supernova-driven shocks, can compress the ambient gas and trigger sequences of shocks that reshape the cloud and promote star formation. This is, however, a difficult phenomenon to observe and characterise, and we still know little about it. This project will focus on examining NGC 1333 in the Perseus molecular cloud, a Solar-type star-forming region, where gas kinematics and chemistry show signs of shock-driven compression (De Simone et al. 2022a). Using astrochemistry, the most powerful diagnostic tool to infer the dynamical and chemical properties of star-forming regions, and analysing different molecular species (such as SiO, SO, H2CS, CH3OH,…), the student will investigate how such energetic events can shape the morphology of the interstellar medium and the fate of future newborn stars.
During the project, the student will learn to work with IRAM 30m data using tools such as the Cube Analysis and Rendering Tool for Astronomy (CARTA) and custom Python scripts. They will create maps of different gas species, explore their velocity structure, and analyse emission spectra to derive quantitative information such as gas column densities and temperature. Through this work, the student will gain hands-on experience in millimetre data analysis, astrochemical interpretation, and the broader connection between interstellar shocks and star formation.
