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Dynamics and Initial Mass Function (IMF) of Young Nuclear Cluster
Improved astrometry for stellar orbits
Gravitational lensing by stellar mass black holes and the supermassive black hole
Dynamics and Initial Mass Function (IMF) of the Young Nuclear Cluster:
Our Galactic Center hosts a supermassive black hole, around which a nuclear star cluster (NSC) resides. There are early (young) and late-type (old) stars within central parsecs of Galactic Center. The young nuclear cluster is particularly interesting as it indicates that star formation can occur in this region, despite the harsh conditions and strong tidal forces. However, the star formation process is likely very unusual.
We measure the IMF as a probe for how the star formation process changes in this environment.
Members: Jessica Lu, Siyao Jia, Ruoyi Yin, Andrea Ghez (UCLA), Tuan Do (UCLA), and the UCLA Galactic Center Group
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Improved astrometry can be achieved from transforming astrometric and photometric data of stars into a common coordinate system, deriving better measurements for positionsm, proper motions, accelerations and thus orbits.
Member: Siyao Jia, Jessica Lu, Shoko Sakai (UCLA), and the UCLA Galactic Center Group
Gravitational lensing effect of supermassive black holes:
Member: Jessica Lu, Siyao Jia, Yixian Chen (Tsinghua)