Research Byte: Using a LASER to Study the Sluggish Pace of Star Formation

Published in the RSAA Lunations
Vol1 Issue51 1–31 May 2024

Ever wondered what lasers have to do with star formation?

Look here for a recent article on the work by Christoph Federrath and team, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Labs, using the most powerful laser system on the planet (the National Ignition Facility) to study the turbulent conditions under which stars form: https://lasers.llnl.gov/news/using-nif-to-study-the-sluggish-pace-of-star-formation

Image: An image of the Carina Nebula illustrating how shocks from a supernova and stellar winds from nearby stars cause compressive turbulence in molecular gas clouds that can enhance star formation. Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.