LVM early science workshop

Rationale

The physical processes driving star formation impact the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM), the gas and dust between stars that provides the raw materials of star formation. The ionized phase in particular, though it is not dominant by mass, simultaneously provides crucial insight into the physical conditions in the local ISM (metallicity, ionization parameter, density) and the ionizing source (young stars, super-novae, evolved stars). The Milky Way, where the necessary ~pc scales directly associated with feedback processes are accessible, is too extended on the sky to reasonably survey with existing instruments. The next step forward therefore comes only with the development of a new instrument and dedicated survey.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is entering its fifth incarnation (SDSS-V, Kollmeier et al. 2017). One of its programs, the Local Volume Mapper (LVM), will carry out full IFS coverage of a wide 1 sterradian area of the Milky Way at sub-pc resolution, along with galaxies in the Local Group (LMC, SMC) at <10pc resolution. LVM spectroscopy will cover the full optical wavelength range (3600-9800A) at high spatial and moderate spectral (R~4000, 30 km/s) resolution suitable for physically isolating and tracing kinematic structures within HII regions and supernova remnants. With contiguous optical IFS observations across our own Milky Way, LVM will resolve the internal structure of star forming regions and ionized nebulae, enabling us to observe the “energy injection scale” and quantify the impact of feedback.

This project involves the development of completely new telescopes and instrumentation, with key components constructed here in Heidelberg. LVM commissioning is projected to start mid-2022. Although schedules are uncertain in the ongoing pandemic situation, a workshop in fall is well timed to finalize preparations for early science projects and (hopefully) begin exploring and exploiting initial science verification data.

Registration

Registration is now closed, but a hybrid meeting format will be supported to allow for remote participants. More details on this will follow later.

We encourage local attendance from ZAH and MPIA researchers interested in learning more about LVM.

Our workshop will have no registration fees, due to financial support from the SFB:881 'The Milky Way System' and ERC Synergy grant ECOGAL. We will also cover the travel and accommodation costs of two early career researchers, based on requested financial need. See registration form for details.

Venue

Our meeting will be held at the International Academic Forum Heidelberg (IWH), located in the heart of the Heidelberg old town (Altstadt).

Getting to Heidelberg: The nearest international airport to Heidelberg is Frankfurt Airport. There are three simple ways to get to and from the airport to Heidelberg. The first, and simplest, is the TLS shuttle. They will meet you at the airport and will drive you direct to your hotel in Heidelberg. If enough people arrive close enough together at frankfurt, we can organise a shuttle specifically for conference people. The second is the Lufthansa Shuttle. These leave at specific times from a stop outside the arrivals area and take you direct to a stop in Heidelberg very close to where the conference bus will leave from (see below), and is close to several of the conference hotels. The third, and cheapest, option is the train. There a several direct trains to Heidelberg from Frankfurt Airport, and many more which require only a small change at Mannheim (close to Heidelberg). Apart from Frankfurt airport, there are many international trains within Europe that can reach Heidelberg directly or via Mannheim.

Accomodation: Many hotels are located in and around the old town ("altstadt"), and walking distance from the venue. An overview of some options are listed here: Altstadt hotel list. More options can also be found on sites like booking.com

Program

We see this workshop as having a Busy Week format, with the majority of time dedicated to breakout sessions and discussions, in preparation for the start of LVM operations.

The schedule is available here: pdf

Contact

Organizers:

• Kathryn Kreckel (Heidelberg, ARI/ZAH)
• Ralf Klessen (Heidelberg, ITA/ZAH)
• Guillermo Blanc (Carnegie Observatories)
• Niv Drory (UT Austin)
• Evelyn Johnston (Universidad Diego Portales)
• Sebastian Sanchez (UNAM)

Local Organizing Committee:

• Kathryn Kreckel (Heidelberg, ARI/ZAH)
• Ralf Klessen (Heidelberg, ITA/ZAH)
• Elizabeth Watkins (Heidelberg, ARI/ZAH)
• Oleg Egorov (Heidelberg, ARI/ZAH)
• Fabian Scheuermann (Heidelberg, ARI/ZAH)
• Jing Li (Heidelberg, ARI/ZAH)

Elements

i = 0;

while (!deck.isInOrder()) {
    print 'Iteration ' + i;
    deck.shuffle();
    i++;
}

print 'It took ' + i + ' iterations to sort the deck.';