Francesco Chiti Tegli   (Italy)

 frchtiti @ mpia.de

Quantifying the Physics of Star Formation Driven Bubbles in Nearby Galaxies

 

Recent high-resolution observations of nearby galaxies from the PHANGS (Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby Galaxies) survey have revealed that the interstellar medium (ISM) of galaxies is highly structured, with a widespread population of cavities and shell-like porous structures which span a very large range of spatial scales. While some of these structures, commonly called "bubbles" (or "superbubbles", when particularly large), are expected to be driven by stellar feedback from massive stars, through winds and supernova shocks, others may arise from large-scale dynamical processes. Disentangling these contributions, as well as identifying which structures are genuinely feedback-driven, remains a key open problem in understanding the lifecycle of the ISM. Furthermore, while bubbles have been thought to play a key role in shaping the ISM and influencing how and where star formation occurs, their lifecycle, physical conditions and large-scale impact are still poorly constrained, as traditional ISM tracers capture only partial and often transient stages of bubble evolution.

Thanks to the high spatial resolution and multi-wavelength coverage of the PHANGS survey, this project aims to investigate the population of bubbles and superbubbles in nearby galaxies, combining JWST (infrared), ALMA (sub-mm), HST, and MUSE (optical) data. I will characterize the bubble population, and constrain the environments in which these structures form. Their physical properties will be also studied in detail, and in connection to star formation, I will trace the origins of bubbles and superbubbles, as well as the processes that drive their evolution.

 

Supervisor:    Eva Schinnerer   (MPIA)