Study on the rotation of water around a proto-black hole

Luigi Zallio (ESO), Miguel Vioque (ESO), Luke Maud (ESO), Nicolás Kurtovic (MPE

(email advisors)

Our knowledge of star formation is undergoing rapid development, in part thanks to the transformational capabilities of the Atacama Large Millimeter/Sub-Millimeter Array (ALMA observatory). ALMA observes the cold dust and gas of the Universe, and it can trace the components of the disks of material around forming stars. G17 is one of the few known massive protostars (30 to 50 solar masses) with a bona-fide disk around. G17 disk molecules are rather exotic (like water and salt), compared to the commonly found CO in low-mass protostars, and they likely come from the extreme densities, temperatures, and energies produced by this massive source.

The student will first learn to use CSALT, a novel code that builds a parametric model for the Keplerian disk structure orbiting forming stars. In this first phase, the student will learn the basics of interferometry and visibility modelling using state-of-the-art ALMA data. After learning how to work with ALMA data, the student will apply CSALT to G17. Characterising this disk in detail will provide key insights into how very massive stars form. This is of capital importance, as massive stars are fundamental for the evolution of galaxies via their energetic feedback and the remnants they leave behind: black holes.

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