Spitzer Space Telescope - Directors Discretionary Time Proposal #286

Protosteller Evolution in the Main Accretion Phase 

Principal Investigator: Melissa Enoch
Institution: Caltech  

Science Category: Star Formation 
Observing Modes: IrsStare 
Hours Approved: 12.3

Abstract:

I will focus my research on the evolution of the most deeply
embedded protostellar objects in their main accretion phase. The  projects
outlined in my proposal are designed to study the lifetime of the
main accretion phase, the innermost envelope structure, the timescale
for disk formation, and the disk-to-envelope mass fraction in young
protostars. My research will utilize archival Spitzer Legacy data,  primarily
from the Cores to Disks Legacy Project, as well as proposing new Spitzer
IRS and CARMA millimeter interferometric observations of highly
embedded protostars.