sSCALES (Spatially-resolved Star-forming Complexes Across Local Extragalactic Systems)
ALMA Large Program | Project Code: 2025.1.00576.L | Cycle 12
PI: Adam Leroy (Ohio State University)
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1. Program Abstract
sSCALES is combining ALMA and JWST to survey the molecular gas and young stellar populations in four of the nearest, best-studied star-forming galaxies: NGC 253 (Sculptor), NGC 300, NGC 5236 (M83), and NGC 7793. The program aims to achieve ~ 10 pc resolution or better (down to ~ 1-2 pc in the short wavelength JWST filters) and observe the whole star-forming area of each target using multiple tracers of gas, dust, and recent star formation activity.
We expect sSCALES resolve 10s of thousands of molecular clouds and measure the molecular gas and dust associated with 10,000 HII regions and young stellar clusters - and to achieve a complete view of star forming regions over each of our targets. These are the key observations needed to measure the efficiency and timescale of stellar feedback into cold gas and the physical state and demographics of molecular clouds.
By pushing to ~10 pc resolution, sSCALES aims for a major advance compared to previous large extragalactic surveys of gas and dust at ~ 100 pc-resolution by resolving star forming regions across their evolution in multiple tracers (our targets have excellent VLT/MUSE and HST coverage in addition to ALMA and JWST). The survey will also forge strong links between Galactic and extragalactic work and observations and numerical simulations.
In detail, sSCALES is observing the CO 2-1, 13CO 2-1, and C18O 2-1 lines targeting ~ 10 pc physical resolution and combining multiple 12-m arrays with the ACA 7m and total power antennas. Complementary JWST observations observe the stellar populations, recombination line emission, PAH emission, and dust continuum in the near- and mid-infrared.
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2. ALMA Large Program Project Codes
sSCALES is an ALMA Large Program approved in Cycle 12. The project details are listed below.
|
Project Code |
Title |
PI |
|
2025.1.00576.L |
The 10 pc Survey of Molecular Clouds and Stellar Feedback |
Adam Leroy (Ohio State University) |
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3. Team Members
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
| Adam Leroy | Ohio State University | PI |
| Angela Adamo | Stockholm University | Co-PI |
| Eric Koch | Dominion Radio Astronomy Observatory, Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics | Co-PI |
| Erik Rosolowsky | University of Alberta | Co-PI |
| Eva Schinnerer | Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy | Co-PI |
| Jiayi Sun | University of Kentucky | Co-PI |
| Karin Sandstrom | University of California at San Diego | Co-PI |
| Alberto Bolatto | University of Maryland | Co-PI |
| Amirnezam Amiri | University of Arkansas at Fayetteville | Co-I |
| Ashley Barnes | European Southern Observatory | Co-I |
| Cara Battersby | University of Connecticut | Co-I |
| Francesco Belfiore | Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory, INAF | Co-I |
| Ivana Beslic | LERMA/LESIA/LUTH, Paris Observatory | Co-I |
| Frank Bigiel | Bonn University | Co-I |
| Mederic Boquien | Université de la Côte d'Azur | Co-I |
| Jakob den Brok | Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy | Co-I |
| Melanie Chevance | University of Heidelberg | Co-I |
| I-Da Chiang | Academia Sinica | Co-I |
| Dario Colombo | Bonn University | Co-I |
| Enrico Congiu | European Southern Observatory | Co-I |
| Serena Cronin | University of Maryland | Co-I |
| Daniel Dale | University of Wyoming | Co-I |
| Cosima Eibensteiner | National Radio Astronomy Observatory | Co-I |
| Oleg Egorov | University of Heidelberg | Co-I |
| Kimberly Emig | National Radio Astronomy Observatory | Co-I |
| Eric Emsellem | European Southern Observatory | Co-I |
| Christopher Faesi | University of Connecticut | Co-I |
| Helena Faustino Vieira | Stockholm University | Co-I |
| Simon Glover | University of Heidelberg | Co-I |
| Alyssa Goodman | Harvard University | Co-I |
| Kathryn Grasha | Australia National University | Co-I |
| Hamid Hassani | University of Alberta | Co-I |
| Annie Hughes | Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie | Co-I |
| Remy Indebetouw | National Radio Astronomy Observatory, University of Virginia | Co-I |
| Maria Jesus Jimenez-Donaire | Observatorio de Madrid, Observatorio AstronĂłmico Nacional | Co-I |
| Jaeyeon Kim | Stanford University | Co-I |
| Ralf Klessen | University of Heidelberg | Co-I |
| Grace Krahm | Ohio State University | Co-I |
| Rebecca Levy | Space Telescope Science Institute | Co-I |
| Sean Linden | Rochester Institute of Technology | Co-I |
| Daizhong Liu | Purple Mountain Observatory | Co-I |
| Rebecca McClain | Ohio State University | Co-I |
| Sharon Meidt | Ghent University | Co-I |
| Eric Murphy | National Radio Astronomy Observatory | Co-I |
| Justus Neumann | Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy | Co-I |
| Elias Oakes | University of Connecticut | Co-I |
| Eve Ostriker | Princeton University | Co-I |
| Hsi-An Pan | Tamkang University | Co-I |
| Debosmita Pathak | Ohio State University | Co-I |
| Alex Pedrini | Stockholm University | Co-I |
| Jerome Pety | Institute of Millimetric Radioastronomy | Co-I |
| Miguel Querejeta | Observatorio de Madrid, Observatorio AstronĂłmico Nacional | Co-I |
| Toshiki Saito | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan | Co-I |
| Rowan Smith | University of St. Andrews | Co-I |
| David Thilker | John Hopkins University | Co-I |
| Todd Thompson | Ohio State University | Co-I |
| Robin Tress | Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy | Co-I |
| Antonio Usero | National Astronomical Observatory | Co-I |
| Elizabeth Watkins | University of Manchester | Co-I |
| Thomas Williams | University of Manchester | Co-I |
| Catherine Zucker | Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian | Co-I |