Our Very Large Array (VLA) Large Program of ~55o hours that I am the PI of got accepted (PI: Eibensteiner, co-PI: Koch, Chown, Chiang). We will use the B, C and D configurations to get exquisite maps at ~8″ angular resolution (300-800 pc) of neutral atomic gas of the most studied nearby spiral galaxies – the ones that are in the PHANGS sample. These galaxies have JWST+HST+ALMA (+AstroSat and Chandra) multi-wavelengths data ready to use. Bringing the “atomic gas backbone” into the multi-wavelength picture is important for example to study (i) how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) relate to atomic gas, (ii) how efficient forms of stellar feedback are (iii) how gas flow through galaxies sustains star formation.
We will start observing in ~July 2026 (using D-configuration) and will continue until ~June 2027. This is very exciting as many projects will evolve out of this Large Program.
Cosima Eibensteiner, PhD 