QUESO (Quantifying Uniformity and Environmental Structure in Our galaxy) : Simulating the environmental regulation of star formation across scales in the Milky Way
Star formation (SF) has traditionally been assumed to be a universal process, based on observational findings suggesting consistent characteristics across different galaxies. However, the physical mechanisms regulating sub-galactic SF remain poorly understood, especially when zooming into individual star-forming regions. While galaxies often show global similarities in SF rates, these break down at smaller scales, revealing significant variation between clouds, even within the same galaxy. What drives this scatter? Is it the chaotic nature of the interstellar medium, or is it influenced by the larger-scale galactic structure in which clouds form and evolve? Why focus on our own Galaxy, the Milky Way (MW)? The MW offers a unique advantage: we are inside it. As our home galaxy, it provides an exceptional combination of spatial detail and global context. Yet, its complex morphology, including spiral arms and a central bar, makes it observationally and theoretically challenging to characterise. I propose the project QUESO (Quantifying Uniformity and Environmental Structure in Our galaxy) to identify the key physical drivers of non-uniform SF by systematically studying how cloud formation and SF efficiency vary with galactic environment. This will be achieved through advanced numerical simulations, building on my expertise in developing high-resolution MW models that resolve both global dynamics and local cloud-scale turbulence, and a direct comparison with observations. QUESO will be hosted at the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Brook, a recognised leader in cosmological and galaxy formation simulations. While his group specialises in hydrodynamical modelling and baryonic feedback in galaxies, ULL currently lacks a dedicated effort focused on MW simulations, precisely what I bring. With strong ties to the observational community at ULL, QUESO will bridge theoretical and observational efforts with unprecedented resolution.
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Imported from OpenAIRE Spain | Grant 101334440.
Open sourceOverview
Grant agreement 101334440 | QUESO
Open sourceStar formation (SF) has traditionally been assumed to be a universal process, based on observational findings suggesting consistent characteristics across different galaxies. However, the physical mechanisms regulating sub-galactic SF remain poorly understood, especially when zooming into individual star-forming regions. While galaxies often show global similarities in SF rates, these break down at smaller scales, revealing significant variation between clouds, even within the same galaxy. What drives this scatter? Is it the chaotic nature of the interstellar medium, or is it influenced by the larger-scale galactic structure in which clouds form and evolve? Why focus on our own Galaxy, the Milky Way (MW)? The MW offers a unique advantage: we are inside it. As our home galaxy, it provides an exceptional combination of spatial detail and global context. Yet, its complex morphology, including spiral arms and a central bar, makes it observationally and theoretically challenging to characterise. I propose the project QUESO (Quantifying Uniformity and Environmental Structure in Our galaxy) to identify the key physical drivers of non-uniform SF by systematically studying how cloud formation and SF efficiency vary with galactic environment. This will be achieved through advanced numerical simulations, building on my expertise in developing high-resolution MW models that resolve both global dynamics and local cloud-scale turbulence, and a direct comparison with observations. QUESO will be hosted at the Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Brook, a recognised leader in cosmological and galaxy formation simulations. While his group specialises in hydrodynamical modelling and baryonic feedback in galaxies, ULL currently lacks a dedicated effort focused on MW simulations, precisely what I bring. With strong ties to the observational community at ULL, QUESO will bridge theoretical and observational efforts with unprecedented resolution.