Modelling of Irradiated Molecular Clouds (C01)

• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2011 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 184018867

The project tries to understand the local chemistry and physics in photon-dominated regions (PDRs) i.e. molecular clouds affected by the UV radiation from young stars, by means of constructing sophisticated PDRs models that fit the observations of cooling lines and continuum radiation. In the new period we study dynamical effects caused by mixing, dust surface reactions and systematic velocity flows. We will combine the local PDR approach with large-scale Milky Way simulations from project C5. With new JWST observations we calibrate the impact of the distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on the PDR structure.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 956: Conditions and Impact of Star Formation - Astrophysics, Instrumentation and Laboratory Research
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Privatdozent Dr. Volker Ossenkopf-Okada