Email: pgmartin@cita.utoronto.ca
[ Computational Astrophysics, Interstellar Medium ]
Peter Martin is engaged in studies of interstellar matter and its relationship to stellar evolution (the birth of stars and planets, nucleosynthesis of the elements in stars, and the death of stars). Although it appears that humanity derives ultimately from diffuse dust and gas in the interstellar medium (ISM) in the Milky Way, many details are still shrouded in the mysteries of the Galactic ecosystem, where counterbalancing, often violent, forces have shaped the ISM and star formation within it over the eons. Consequently, his research includes theoretical work understanding basic physical processes, incorporating them in astrophysical simulations, and analysis and interpretation of strategically-acquired multifrequency data from ground- and space-based telescopes. Themes within the context of the Galactic ecosystem include the evolution of interstellar grains; chemical abundances and nebular structure; molecular hydrogen near regions of star formation; clouds and turbulence; interstellar polarization.
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