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Christine D. Wilson
Professor
Department of Physics and Astronomy
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
L8S 4M1
Office: ABB-351, ABB-241
Phone: (905) 525-9140 x27483
FAX: (905) 546-1252
E-mail: wilson@physics.mcmaster.ca
Research Area: Astrophysics
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Research Interests
My work involves all aspects of observational star formation and
the molecular interstellar medium, both in
our own Galaxy and in other galaxies. I am particularly interested in
the properties of giant molecular clouds,
the nature of the interstellar medium in dwarf galaxies, the
mechanisms regulating star formation rates and efficiencies
in galaxies, and the properties of low-mass protostars in nearby
molecular clouds. A large
part of my observational work is concentrated
in the regime of millimeter-wave radio interferometry, where
high-resolution images of the emission from molecules
in the interstellar medium can be obtained. However, many of
these problems require a multi-wavelenght approach and so I have used
a variety of optical and radio telescopes, including
the Submillimeter Array (SMA), the James Clerk Maxwell
Telescope (JCMT), and
the
Herschel
Space Observatory
Here are some of the projects that my group is currently working on:
- a major survey of 14 nearby luminous infrared galaxies to
determine the distribution, kinematics, and physical conditions of the
gas and dust, to compare with simulations of galaxy mergers to
understand how the gas and star formation rates evolve during the
merger process, and as a well-studied local sample to understand
high-redshift submillimeter galaxies
- a large survey of HI-selected galaxies within 25 Mpc to study the
dense molecular gas associated with star formation, the gas-to-dust
mass ratio, and to look for variations and correlations with galaxy
type, mass, star formation rate, metallicity, etc. (the
JCMT Nearby Galaxy Legacy Survey,
with postdoc Brad Warren and roughly 50 collaborators)
- a survey of the dust and molecular gas in a small sample of
nearby spiral galaxies to measure the dust mass and temperature, the
gas to dust mass ratio, and to look for correlations in these
properties with massive star formation (Scott Brooks' Ph.D. thesis)
- a a detailed study of
the gas and dust in a diverse sample of 14 nearby galaxies from 60 to
550 microns using the instruments on the Herschel satellite (to be
launched in 2009) (part of this will be Tara Parkin's Ph.D. thesis)
I am also currently
the Canadian Project Scientist for the (Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA)
(see also Canadian ALMA page), which was recommended
as the highest priority for Canadian participation in a major, new, ground-based observatory in the report of the
Long Range Planning Panel, "The Origins of Structure in the Universe"
.
I am also an Associate
Scientist with the
SPIRE instrument for the
Herschel
Space Observatory
, which is currently scheduled to launch in 2008.
Selected Publications
- "Luminous Infrared Galaxies with the
Submillimeter Array: I. Survey Overview and the Central Gas to
Dust Ratio", C. D. Wilson, G. R. Petitpas, D. Iono, A. J. Baker,
A. B. Peck, M. Krips, B. E. Warren, J. Golding, A. Atkinson,
L. Armus, T. J. Cox, P. T. P. Ho, M. Juvela, S. Matsushita,
J. C. Mihos, Y. Pihlstrom, & M. Yun, ApJS, 178, 189-224 (2008)
- "Outflow and Infall in a sample
of massive star forming regions", P. D. Klaassen &
C. D. Wilson, ApJ, 663, 1092-1102 (2007)
- "High-Mass Star Formation III.
The Functional Form of the Submillimeter Mass Function",
M. A. Reid & C. D. Wilson,
ApJ, 650, 970-984(2005).
- "Molecular Gas in Candidate Double-Barred Galaxies II.
Cooler, Less Dense Gas Associated with Stronger Central Concentrations",
G. R. Petitpas & C. D. Wilson,
ApJ, 587, 649-659 (2003).
- "The Mass Function of Super Giant Molecular Clouds and Implications
for Forming Young Massive Star Clusters in the Antennae (NGC4038/39)", C. D. Wilson, N. Scoville, S. C. Madden, & V. Charmandaris, ApJ, 599, 1049 (2003).
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