Associate Professor
Lai,Shih-Ping

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Office¡G886-3-5742531(PHYS R519)
Fax¡G886-3-5723052
E-mail¡G
slai@phys.nthu.edu.tw

Education
  1. Ph. D. , University of Illinois , U.S.A. (2001)
Professional Experience
Current position¡G
  1. 2015/8-present, Professor of The Physics Department and The Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University
Experience¡G
  1. 2001-2003, Research Associate, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, USA
  2. 2003-2006, Research Associate, University of Maryland, USA
  3. 2006/4-2010/07, Assistant Professor of The Physics Department and The Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University
  4. 2010/8-2015/07, Associate Professor of The Physics Department and The Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University
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Research Fields
    1. Astrophysics
    2. Star Formation
    3. nterplanetary Magnetic Field
    4. radio astronomy
    5. Infrared Astronomy
Research Interests and achievement
Updated on September 3, 2006

My primary research interest is star formation including the role of magnetic field in star formation and the global properties of molecular clouds and young stellar objects. Most of my experience has been observing with radio interferometers and modeling infrared data.

(1) Magnetic Fields in Star-forming Cores
Magnetic fields play a significant and perhaps crucial role in the star formation process. However, there are few observations that measure magnetic fields at the relevant scale for the star formation process. I have used the BIMA millimeter interferometer to map the geometry of the field structure in some star-forming cores with angular resolution up to ~2¡¨. The data show that the geometry of magnetic field is remarkably uniform in the cores we observed, implying that the field strength is strong enough to influence the formation of stars. Due to the limited sensitivity of BIMA, it can only detect the magnetic field in a few high-mass star-forming regions. With the Submillimeter array, we will be able to extend the mass range of the observed sample and to map the field with higher angular resolution. The data will enable us to properly test the theoretical models and simulations of star formation.

(2) Analysis and Modeling of infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope
I have been involved with the ¡§From Core to Disk¡¨ (c2d) Legacy Project of the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST). The unprecedented sensitivity of SST at 3¡X160 £gm provides crucial data for studies of star and planet formation. The results of the c2d project uncovered hundred thousands of previous unknown sources, providing the first unbiased sample for statistical studies of the complete stellar content and star formation history in the survey regions. I am currently involved in the following studies with my colleagues in the c2d team:

  1. The mass, age, and position distributions of young stellar objects in molecular clouds
  2. Disk evolution of young stellar objects
  3. The variation of dust properties in molecular clouds
  4. The density and turbulence structure of the molecular clouds
  5. Searching for low mass objects and brown dwarfs

Selected Publications
  1. [2006] J.-E., Lee, J. Di Francesco, SPL, T. L. Bourke, N. J. Evans II, B. Spiesman, P. C. Myers, L. E. Allen, T. Y. Brooke, A. Porras, and Z. Wahhaj, The Spitzer c2d Survey of Nearby Dense Cores. III. Low-Mass Star Formation in a Small Group, L1251B, Astrophysical Journal, 648, 491 (2006)
  2. [2003] SPL, J. M. Girart, and R. M. Crutcher, Interferometric Mapping of Magnetic Fields in Star-forming Regions. III. Dust and CO Polarization in DR 21(OH), Astrophysical Journal, 598, 392 (2003)
  3. [2003] SPL, T. Velusamy, and W. D. Langer, The High Angular Resolution Measurement of Ion and Neutral Spectra as a Probe of the Magnetic Field Structure in DR 21(OH), Astrophysical Journal, 596, L239 (2003)
  4. [2003] SPL, T. Velusamy, W. D. Langer, and T. B. H. Kuiper, The Physical and Chemical Status of Pre-Protostellar Core B68, Astronomical Journal, 126, 311 (2003)
  5. [2002] SPL, R. M. Crutcher, J. M. Girart, and R. Rao, Interferometric Mapping of Magnetic Fields in Star-forming Regions. II. NGC 2024 FIR 5, Astrophysical Journal, 566, 925 (2002)
  6. [2001] SPL, R. M. Crutcher, J. M. Girart, and R. Rao, Interferometric Mapping of Magnetic Fields in Star-forming Regions. I. W51 e1/e2 Molecular Cores, Astrophysical Journal, 561, 864 (2001)
  7. [2001] SPL, Y.-H. Chu, C.-H. R. Chen, R. Ciardullo, and E. K. Grebel, A Critical Examination of Hypernova Remnant Candidates in M101. I. MF 83, Astrophysical Journal, 547, 754 (2001)
  8. [2000] SPL and R. M. Crutcher, 33.8 GHZ CCS Survey of Molecular Cores in Dark Clouds, Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 128, 271 (2000)

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