The formation and evolution of star-forming filaments

CONTEXT.

Filaments play a critical role in star formation. There are dense, massive filaments where a large fraction of low- and intermediate-mass stars form, and which also channel interstellar gas into even denser, more massive hubs where high-mass stars form; and there are more diffuse, lighter filaments which feed material onto the denser filaments. These filaments seem to possess a number of tell-tale properties, for example: (i) many of them appear to have a width of order 0.1 pc; (ii) the ambient magnetic field field seems to play an important role in determining their orientation; and (iii) star formation only starts once the surface-density exceeds ~ 200 M₈pc^-2. There is a growing body of detailed observational data on the morphology and magnetic-field structure of filaments, from the BISTRO project, and it is timely to try to explain this data theoretically.

PROJECT.

This project will use numerical magneto-hydrodynamic simulations to explore filament formation and evolution, starting from dynamical initial conditions informed by galactic-scale simulations of the interstellar medium. It will aim to reproduce the configurations observed by BISTRO using POL-2 on the James Clerk Maxwell telescope, by developing statistical descriptors for the observed configurations. In the first instance we will use the PHANTOM Smoothed Particle Magneto-Hydrodynamics code, with additional modules to treat the thermal and chemical processes that regulate the dynamics. We will post-process the results using UCLChem, LIME and RadMC to produce line profiles, line maps and dust-continuum maps. We will also, if time allows, try to constrain the consequences of the filamentary environment for the statistical properties of the stars formed therein (mass function, mass segregation, clustering properties, multiplicity statistics).

SKILLS.

The student will become expert in interstellar gas dynamics and modelling the associated chemical and radiative processes, triggered star formation, numerical hydrodynamics and radiation transport. Once acquired, these skills can be applied to a range of other problems in astrophysics, and many can also be applied in other fields like meteorology.

For more information, or if there are any questions, please contact Professor Anthony Whitworth WhitworthAP@cardiff.ac.uk

The typical academic requirement is a minimum of a 2:1 physics and astronomy or a relevant discipline. 

Applicants whose first language is not English are normally expected to meet the minimum University requirements (e.g. IELTS 6.5 Overall with 5.5 minimum in sub-scores) (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements) 

How to apply 

Applicants should apply to the Doctor of Philosophy in Physics and Astronomy. 

Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University webpages (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/physics-and-astronomy) including: 

• your academic CV 

• Your degree certificates and transcripts to date including certified translations if these are not in English 

• a personal statement/covering letter 

• two references, at least one of which should be academic. Your references can be emailed by the referee to physics-admissions@cardiff.ac.uk  

Please note: We are do not contact referees directly for references for each applicant due to the volume of applications we receive.     

In the "Research Proposal" section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project.

In the funding section, please select that you will be self-funded or include your own sponsorship or scholarship details.

Once your application is submitted, we will review it and advise you within a few weeks if you have been shortlisted for an interview. 

Cardiff University and the School of Physics and Astronomy are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity. Our inclusive environment welcomes applications from talented people from diverse backgrounds. We strongly welcome female applicants and those from any ethnic minority group, as they are underrepresented in our School. The School of Physics & Astronomy has a Juno Practitioner accreditation that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. The University is committed to ensuring that we sustain a positive working environment for all staff to flourish and achieve. As part of this commitment, the University has developed a flexible and responsive framework of procedures to support staff in managing their work and personal commitments wherever possible. Applications are welcome from individuals who wish to work part-time or full time. 

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: Responsible research assessment - research – Cardiff University. 

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.  We very much welcome applications in Welsh.