This project is by a brand new Assistant Professor at U. Mass. Dartmouth. The study involves the simulation of Giant Molecular Clouds (GMC) with particular emphasis in their chemical evolution. GMCs are preferred stellar formation sites and are rich in many different physical processes such as magnetic turbulence, jets, radiation transfer, etc. The PI, only author of this proposal, has developed a new technique to study astrochemical evolution, which he plans to execute with the help of this award. The method aims at describing accurately non-equilibrium chemical reactions, particularly in the presence of shocks, while evolving the hydrodynamics in three-dimensions. The PI will perform two 768³ simulations (one of a small GMC clump with mach number 5, the other of a large GMC with mach number 3). As computing time, each one will need 150 KSU on Abe / Queen Bee and will be executed using the Flash code.

Dr. Robert Fisher
Assistant Professor
University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth
Department of Physics
fisher.robert.taylor@gmail.com