How Stars Shape Interstellar Gas Clouds

by Dr. Shmuel Bialy

Technion

at Astrophysics and Cosmology Seminar

Wed, 05 Jun 2024, 11:10
Sacta-Rashi Building for Physics (54), room 207

Abstract

Stars form in molecular clouds. Once they form they inject energy back into the interstellar medium, through radiation, winds ,supernovae, and cosmic rays.
I will discuss two main aspects of this "feedback" process: supernova and cosmic rays.
1) First, I will discuss our recent discovery of the Per-Tau supershell using 3d techniques, and its implications for positive supernova feedback in which the stars help the formation of the next generation of molecular clouds, and new stars, through supernova explosions.
2) Second, I will discuss the effect of cosmic rays on molecular clouds, and how we can use cold molecular clouds as giant detectors floating in space, which can detect low-energy cosmic rays.
The spectrum shape and abundance of these low-energy cosmic rays is currently an open question. With future JWST observations, we may constrain these cosmic-ray properties, shedding light on the formation process and propagation mechanism of galactic cosmic rays.

Created on 02-06-2024 by Zitrin, Adi (zitrin)
Updaded on 02-06-2024 by Zitrin, Adi (zitrin)