Multiphase Astrophysics to Unveil the Virgo Environment (MAUVE): Linking Molecular Cloud Physics to Galaxy Evolution

Galaxies living in dense galaxy clusters show markedly different behavior in their star formation activity and long-term evolution, yet it is unclear when and how such changes are brought about by “environmental processes” acting on these galaxies. A main reason is the lack of high-resolution, multiwavelength observations probing the gas in the inner regions of these galaxies, where most residual star formation takes place. A research project at the University of Kentucky will address this problem with an ambitious program using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) surveying 40 galaxies in the nearest cluster to us, Virgo. The new data is expected to reveal all giant molecular clouds (GMCs) as fundamental units of star formation in the sample of Virgo galaxies and will measure their distribution, density, and dynamical properties. As part of the project, the researchers will contribute to the development of a globally competitive workforce by training undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral students in research and developing public outreach talks. The proposed measurements will be used to explain variations in star formation rates probed by two Large Programs on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and Hubble Space Telescope. Further, the team will also jointly analyze gas and stellar kinematics and dynamics from ALMA, VLT, and the Very Large Array to provide direct, localized evidence of environmental processing and offer theory-based interpretations of the empirical results. The proposed work will provide a much-needed basis for interpreting low-resolution galaxy evolution studies in more distant galaxy clusters and groups, as well as for contextualizing large observing programs targeting extreme systems under environmental effects (e.g., “jellyfish” galaxies). The project links molecular gas physics on tens of parsec scales to the transformation of galaxy properties on kiloparsec scales, within the full context of galaxy cluster environment over megaparsec scales. This program thus has the potential to link three sub-fields in astronomy in an organic way: star formation in the interstellar medium, galaxy global evolution, and large-scale structures in the universe. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.