Computer Science
Scientific paper
May 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007sptz.prop40592b&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #40592
Computer Science
Scientific paper
Key to the advancement of a star formation study is the identification and characterization of the earliest stages of the process. Infrared dark clouds are excellent candidates for the precursors to massive stars and stellar clusters. Furthermore, the location of many IRDCs is in the Galactic Molecular Ring, where the majority of stars are born in our Galaxy. Given the larger distances, the similarity between the process of star formation in the Ring and in the local clouds is relatively unexplored. We have developed a technique for isolating fragmenting clumps with IRDCs and determining their properties in an automated manner based on absorbing structures evident in IRAC 8-micron and MIPS 24-micron images. We propose here to exploit the wealth of data in the GLIMPSE and MIPSGAL archives to compile a sample of thousands of clumps with the following scientific goals: determine the clump mass function, isolate the pre-stellar phase of massive stars, examine the clump mass-size relation, and evaluate the level of mass segregation. The proposed study offers the opportunity to characterize and contrast star formation in a new environment as has been done for local clouds.
Bergin Edwin
Ragan Sarah
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