Abstract：The central molecular zone (CMZ), the inner several 100 pc of the Milky Way, harbors the most extreme physical conditions for star formation in the Galaxy. The gas properties, radiation field, and cosmic ray ionization rate are more similar to those in the center of other galaxies, starbursts and high-z galaxies than in the solar neighbourhood clouds. It is the only extreme environment in which it is possible to resolve individual forming stars and link the small-scale physics of star formation and feedback with the galactic-scale processes that together drive the evolution of galaxies.
Despite the large reservoir of dense molecular gas in the CMZ that rivals starburst regions in external galaxies, its average star formation efficiency is more than a factor of 10 lower than in the Milky Way disk. What is the underlying cause of such a low star formation? Are there hidden populations of embedded young stars that escape detections of modern telescopes? In this talk, I'll present recent observations that shed lights to these important questions, including results from the ALMA large program ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey.
Bio：Qizhou Zhang is a Senior Astrophysicist and Chair of the Radio & Geoastronomy Division at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. As a leading observational astrophysicist specializing in star formation, he has made major contributions to understanding how molecular clouds fragment, how filaments and dense cores evolve, and how magnetic fields and turbulence regulate star formation. He has played key roles in scientific leadership, helping steer major telescope and instrument projects, and shaping the careers of many younger astronomers.
