Stellar habitats in different environments (B06)

• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 500700252

In B6 we investigate the formation and evolution of massive star habitats for different environments by means of 3D MHD simulations with our extended multi-physics simulation framework which is based on the FLASH code. This is done on scales of about a kiloparsec and on smaller scales by zooming in. On larger scales we inform our simulations from observations of nearby galaxies as well simulations of galaxy evolution. On smaller scales, we deliver information on the mass and energy flowing from large to small scales and feeding parsec-scale massive star habitats as studied in project area A. We will address whether the massive star habitats dynamically decouple from the environment on some particular scale. We assess the relative importance of external (galactic environment) vs. internal properties (turbulence, sub-structure, magnetic field strength) for evaluating which conditions promote or hinder massive star formation. Over the next twelve years, B6 will show whether a universal star formation process is possible given the diversity of galactic environments and which physical processes are the major players in shaping the habitats of massive stars.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1601: Habitats of massive stars across cosmic time
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Stefanie Walch-Gassner