CRA Seminar: ChongChong He (U. of Maryland)

Title: Multiscale Simulations of Star Formation from Molecular Clouds

Abstract: Star formation lies at the center of many fundamental topics in astrophysics. No comprehensive, quantitative theory of star formation has been established due to the complex physics involved and the huge dynamic range of the problem. Using a series of MHD simulations of star formation from turbulent giant molecular clouds (GMCs) with stellar feedback, I try to answer some of the fundamental questions in star formation. I find physically motivated scaling relations between star formation efficiency and cloud properties. I have shown, for the first time, that star formation in GMCs is a purely stochastic process. I will follow up with my findings from a set of novel simulations of the formation and collapse of magnetized prestellar cores. I will also briefly discuss my study’s implications on the epoch of reionization in the JWST era.