Radiation-Driven Turbulence and Star Formation

Advancing our understanding of stars and the radiation they produce is a central research goal. This is because stars produce the light and chemical elements necessary for planets to form and for life to exist. However, we also know that ionising, ultra-violet (UV) radiation is harmful to humans and can cause skin cancer. It is therefore critical to develop simulation techniques that can accurately model the propagation of UV radiation in gaseous media, such as the Earth's atmosphere. The development of such a code is a key goal of this project. Furthermore, the Australian Academy of Science's Decadal Plan for Astronomy stresses the need for infrastructure and research workforce investment to power Australia's leadership in international space research. The Plan identifies areas where Australia can make its greatest 'world-leading contributions', such as the origin of stars. Here we will make the most detailed predictions of star formation