Peculiar Star-Forming Regions: The Opportunity to Better Understand the Physics of the Interstellar Medium

• Applicant: Dr. Igor Zinchenko
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 550945879

Understanding the physical processes and chemical composition of star-forming (SF) regions is critical for comprehending the origins and evolution of galaxies, including our Galaxy. This project aims to investigate SF regions with peculiar excitation parameters and their potential impact on galaxy formation and evolution. Although these conditions are not dominant in current spectral datasets, understanding the mechanisms behind them is vital for elucidating the role of star formation and feedback in galaxy formation, particularly for low-mass galaxies and at higher redshifts. To accomplish this goal, I will utilize spectral data from current and upcoming spectroscopic surveys such as SDSS-V/LVM, DESI, MaNGA, and eCALIFA to address several key questions. These questions include determining the prevalence of peculiar SF regions across galaxies, identifying their ionization sources, assessing the chemical homogeneity of the interstellar medium, and investigating the relationship between peculiar SF regions and the circum- and extragalactic environments of their host galaxies. Since robust estimation of the chemical abundance is essential for identifying SF regions with peculiar excitation parameters, I will develop a new unified strong line method for determining chemical abundances in SF regions. This method will cover a wider parameter space than existing methods and include regions with peculiar excitation parameters. This new, robust strong line method will be instrumental for current and upcoming spectroscopic facilities such as JWST/NIRSpec, BlueMUSE, ELT/HARMONI, and WST.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants