B.Sc., M.Sc., Queen's Univ. (62, 65)
Ph.D., Manchester (69)
Visiting Scientist, CSIRO, Sydney (80--81, 87--88), Joint Astronomy Centre (JAC), Hilo (94-95)
The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, a 15 m diameter high-precision telescope on Mauna Kea, operates over the wavelength range from 450 microns to 1300 microns providing high angular resolution of 7" to 21". Molecular spectral line emissions in this wavelength range are probes of relatively warm and dense gas and indicate conditions in the hotter cores where star formation begins. Spectral line observations yield information on the density and temperature of the gas. Submillimetre wavelength continuum measurements give information about the dust component. Observations of spectral line and dust emissions will help to distinguish features of protostars at different stages of evolution.
The Dominion Astrophysical Radio Observatory in Penticton operates at 7 element synthesis radio telescope which is now being used for the Galactic Plane Survey project. Emissions from the prime component of the interstellar medium, atomic hydrogen, are being mapped in our Galaxy over the longitude range 70 to 140 degrees, and 8 degrees in latitude. Simultaneously, the synthesis telescope is producing radio continuum and polarization images at two frequencies. Complementary surveys in molecular line emissions from CO, and continuum emissions at other wavelengths, are being undertaken at other observatories. I am part of the consortium of 33 people from Canada and other countries involved in this project. Many different studies, some of which relate to star formation, photo dissociation, and galactic structure will be make from the vast database.
"Intense Molecular Emission from the Lagoon Nebula, M8", Astron. Astrophys. 323, 529, (1997), G.J. White, N.F.H. Tothill, H.E. Matthews, W.H. McCutcheon, M. Huldtgren, and M.J. McCaughrean.
"The Eagle Nebula's Fingers - Pointers to the Earliest Stages of Star Formation?", Astron. Astrophys. 342, 233, (1999), 16 authors including W.H. McCutcheon.
"Star Formation in NGC 633 I and I (N)", Mon.Not. R. Astr. Soc. 316, 152, (2000), W. H. McCutcheon, G. Sandell, H.E. Matthews. T.B.H. Kuiper, E.C. Sutton, W.C. Danchi and T. Sato.
"The Structure and Evolution of the Lagoon Nebula. I. Submillimetre Continuum
and CO Line Mapping", Astrophys. J. 580, 285, (2002), N.F.H. Tothill, G.J.
White, H.E. Matthews, W.H. McCutcheon, M.J. McCaughrean, and M.A. Kenworthy.