Interstellar medium and star formation

The research concentrates on the properties of the interstellar medium and the process of star formation, both in the Milky Way and other galaxies.

The main topics include:

• Physical and chemical properties of interstellar molecular clouds and the initial conditions for star formation by means of radio spectroscopy
• Properties and composition of interstellar dust grains by observing continuum emission from dust
• Measurement and modelling of the Extragalacic Background Light (EBL) in the optical and infrared
• Numerical radiative transfer modelling of spectral lines and dust continuum emission in interstellar clouds
• Numerical magnetohydrodynamical modelling of the physical properties of the molecular clouds

The main instruments currently in use include:

• ESO (European Southern Observatory)
  • Large optical telescopes (VLT etc.) and radio telescopes (APEX, ALMA) located in Chile.
  • Finland is a member of ESO since 2004
  • ESO/ESA synergy important for Finnish Astronomy
  • Participation in ALMA and ESO/VLT infrared projects building on previous experience with SEST, ISO, ODIN
  • See also ESO press releases
    Infrared Halo Frames a Newborn Star
    Seeing through the Dark
• Planck
  • Cosmology satellite with an important contribution to Galactic studies (see ESA press release New Planck images trace cold dust and reveal large-scale structure in the Milky Way)
  • Coordinator status in a Scientific Working Group and a Technical Working Group
  • See here for more information in Finnish
• Herschel
  • The largest space telescope ever
  • Participation in Milky Way studies, coordination of the Herschel key programme Galactic Cold Cores
  • For more information in English, see ESA's pages and the press release Inside the dark heart of the Eagle
  • For information in Finnish, see ESA web page and the local pages on Planck and Herschel studies.