The Violent Interstellar Medium at the Galactic Center

University Of Iowa, Iowa City IA

Investigators

Abstract

AST 0307052 Lang Dr. Cornelia Lang will carry out an extensive observational program to investigate the astrophysics of the violent interstellar medium in the central regions of the Milky Way galaxy. The goal of this program is to use both recent and proposed multi-wavelength observations of the central 200 pc of the Galaxy to put together a more complete picture of the interstellar processes in this physically-extreme region. In particular, she will (1) elucidate the complex physical arrangement and associations of stellar and interstellar components in the Galactic Center using a combination of high-resolution, atomic hydrogen absorption data from the Very Large Array and existing multi- wavelength datasets. (2) Secondly, she will investigate the relationship of the magnetic field in the Galactic Center to the diffuse interstellar components (e.g. ionized, molecular and very hot gas) and the role it plays in the transport of energy out of the nucleus using existing and future radio polarimetric and X-ray datasets. Comparisons between the magnetized and other interstellar components are crucial to determining the physical processes at work in this environment. The level of detail that can be observed in the central few hundred parsecs of the Galaxy vastly exceeds the resolution with which one can probe the nuclear regions of other galaxies. Ultimately, this type of investigation of the violent processes occurring in our own Galactic Center will provide insight as to the nature of violent processes occurring in the nuclear regions of other galaxies. As a key aspect of the research program, Dr. Lang will be working with the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program at the University of Iowa to involve traditionally under-represented female physics and astronomy students (both undergraduate and graduate) in an active research collaboration. In addition to carrying out the proposed observations and analysis of Galactic Center data, Dr. Lang and her students will create a web-based, multi-wavelength Galactic Center resource for members of the scientific community, teachers of all levels, and the general public. ***