Seminář ÚTFA: Tereza Jeřábková

The Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics invites you to the department seminary. The content of the seminar will be organizational matters, and short reports, but the main contribution will be a talk given by Tereza Jeřábková.

Tereza Jeřábková — Bridging Cosmic Scales: Understanding Star Formation from Molecular Clouds to Galactic Structures​

How and what stars form is a fundamental question in astrophysics, influencing the cosmic baryonic cycle, chemical enrichment, and the evolution of galaxies from early epochs to the present day. Despite decades of research, key questions about star formation remain open: What are its initial conditions? Do stars form similarly across different environments, from the Milky Way to high-redshift galaxies? How do dynamical processes in star clusters shape the stellar populations we observe in galaxies today?

In my research group, we address these questions by embracing the multi-scale nature of star formation, combining observational, theoretical, and computational approaches. Using data from Gaia, ESO/VLT, JWST, and upcoming 4MOST surveys, we investigate resolved star-forming regions and star clusters, employing advanced techniques such as unsupervised machine learning and state-of-the-art N-body simulations (PeTaR).

Beyond resolved studies, we aim to bridge star formation physics with galaxy-scale stellar populations. By leveraging the GalIMF code—an innovative semi-empirical model linking individual star-forming regions to galactic stellar populations—we explore how star formation conditions translate into observable properties of galaxies and their chemical evolution. This approach also enables synergies with hydro/cosmological simulations, addressing resolution limitations and connecting theoretical star formation studies with large-scale structure formation.

As my research group takes shape, I aim to foster interdisciplinary collaborations across the department, from stellar evolution and resolved stellar populations to galaxy formation and cosmology. This work not only enhances our understanding of how stars form and evolve but also contributes to a broader framework connecting astrophysical processes across cosmic scales.