Jessica Ryan

• Bsc (Hons) Economics & Mathematics
• Morphology of random fields: application to interstellar neutral hydrogen

Quantitative morphology of random fields is a rapidly developing branch of integral geometry with exceptional potential for applications in various areas of science. The aim of this project is to apply these methods to the distribution of the turbulent interstellar gas in the Milky Way galaxy resulting from one of the best recent surveys of the Milky Way in the spectral line of neutral hydrogen, the most abundant interstellar atom. The distribution of hydrogen is very patchy, as might be expected of a turbulent medium, and has a pronounced filamentary structure. The origin of this structure remains obscure. To understand what forms the filaments, one first needs to quantify their parameters, such as prevalent aspect ratios, lengths, etc. This has not been done before, mainly because of the lack of suitable tools. The application of the novel analysis methods in this project will result in new results publishable in international refereed journals.

Funding source: Newcastle University