Molecular Hydrogen in Extreme Enviroments

Current Research Interests

Molecular hydrogen (H2) serves as a building block for forming complex molecules like H20 that are essential for life. Despite being the most abundant molecule in the universe, H2 is difficult to observe since it lacks a permament dipole momement, leaving open several possible avenues for research. In particular, environments around SNRs and AGN are quite harsh, with highly energetic particles whirling about due to intense magnetic fields, and how complex molecules manage to survive in this environment remains unclear.

I'm interested in numerical simulations to predict the formation pathways and excitation mechanisms of H2 in these extreme enviroments. Specifically, I've been involved with the Keck OSIRIS Nearby AGN (KONA) survey, which contains a sample of 40 local AGN with central 400 pc K-band spectroscopy. Such a survey enables tracing the molecular (H2) and ionized gas to investigate the feeding and feedback processes at play.

Recent Publications

  • Xiang, W., Ferland, G. J., Baldwin, J. A., Loh, E. D., Richardson, C. T., "Detecting the Rapidly Expanding Outer Shell of the Crab Nebula: Where to Look", 2013, ApJ, 774, 112
  • Richardson, C. T., Baldwin, J. A., Ferland, G. J., Loh, E. D., Kuehn, C., Fabian, A. C., Salome, P., "The Nature of the H2 Emitting Gas in the Crab Nebula", MNRAS, 2013, 430, 1257
  • Loh, E. D., Baldwin, J. A., Ferland, G. J., Curtis, Z. K., Richardson, C. T., Fabian, A. C., Salome, P., "H2 Temperatures in the Crab Nebula", 2012, MNRAS, 421, 789